nutrition

American  

[noo-trish-uhn, nyoo-] / nuˈtrɪʃ ən, nju- /

noun

nutrition plural

1. the act or process of nourishing or of being nourished; the use of food for life, health, and growth.

   Our program helps families learn about nutrition and make the most of their food budget.

2. Biology. the process by which organisms take in and utilize food material.

   Most animals have holozoic nutrition—they take in whole food and then digest it into smaller particles.

3. food or nutriment; any substance used or needed for nourishment.

   Billions of people rely on seafood for essential nutrition.

   The chart shows nutrition information for each menu item, including fat, protein, and so on.

4. the science or study of, or a course of study in, nutrition, especially of humans.

   She has a master's degree in nutrition from the University of Oslo.

5. the pursuit of this science as an occupation or profession.

   She now runs a consultancy specializing in naturopathy and nutrition.

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nutrition British  

/ njuːˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. a process in animals and plants involving the intake of nutrient materials and their subsequent assimilation into the tissues

2. the act or process of nourishing

3. the study of nutrition, esp in humans

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nutrition Scientific  

/ no̅o̅-trĭsh′ən /

1. The process by which living organisms obtain food and use it for growth, metabolism, and repair. The stages of nutrition include ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, assimilation, and excretion.

2. The scientific study of food and nourishment, including food composition, dietary guidelines, and the roles that various nutrients have in maintaining health.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hypernutrition
  noun
• supernutrition
  noun
• nutritional
  adjective
• nutritionary
  adjective
• nutritionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nutrition
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nutrition

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin nūtrītiōn- (stem of nūtrītiō ) “a feeding,” equivalent to Latin nūtrīt(us) (past participle of nūtrīre “to feed”; see nourish ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Nutrition is the study of food and drink. If you take a nutrition class, you'll become more aware of the health hazards of junk food. Nutrition also has a more general meaning — the source of materials needed to nourish your body, like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and protein. When you study nutrition, you learn the right combinations of these to have great health. You also gain an understanding of how the body uses food to produce energy, grow stronger and repair itself — this process is also called nutrition.

Example Sentences

We need bolder action on several fronts, such as new types of health professionals that make nutrition their No. 1 priority and more effective dietary interventions, among other things.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

The guidelines covered a range of topics including fitness, nutrition and childcare.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

These can include psychology to understand how the brain reacts under pressure, alongside nutrition and fitness to ensure they have the energy to compete effectively.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

The results also raise questions about whether current nutrition recommendations could do a better job of helping people obtain beneficial compounds such as flavanols.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2026

Remember the chocolate cake study, the one that looked at the nutrition choices made by someone asked to remember numbers?

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• nourishment