nutritious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nutritious
1655–65; < Latin nūtrītius that suckles, nourishes, variant of nūtrīcius, equivalent to nūtrīci- (stem of nūtrīx ) nurse ( see nurse) + -us adj. suffix ( see -ous)
Explanation
Nutritious describes food that's good for you. Brown rice and kale are nutritious, but jelly beans, sadly, are not. Something that provides nutrients — vitamins, minerals, and protein, for example — is nutritious. Our bodies need nutritious food to grow, heal, and stay healthy, however much we might crave tasty, non-nutritious snacks. The adjective nutritious comes from the Latin word nutritius, "that nourishes," which in turn comes from the root nutrix, "nurse."
Vocabulary lists containing nutritious
Unit 1: Ecological Systems
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Words to Describe Food
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The First State of Being
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He plans to travel across the country showing families how to cook delicious, nutritious meals with real ingredients at affordable prices.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
“While we understand the disappointment some may feel, we hope our loyal coffee yogurt lovers enjoy the many other delicious and nutritious alternatives,” said Rafael Acevedo, president of its yogurt division.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Eating a nutritious diet, losing weight, and becoming more physically active can significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
Under A Step to Freedom’s contract with the Department of Health Services, the nonprofit is obligated to provide residents with a minimum of three nutritious meals per day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Our corn, or maize, has been bred for ten thousand generations to be more tasty and nutritious than its scrawny ancestors; indeed, it is so changed that it cannot even reproduce without human intervention.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
