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.
Betts says not having a nutritious or satiating evening meal can lead to a "crash" later, which sees people snack.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
"These numbers represent children whose parents cannot afford nutritious food and families whose ability to cope has been worn down by years of conflict, economic hardship, drought and other shocks."
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
She said she’s waiting for menus with caloric values, as well as reports from the visiting dietitian to determine whether detainees are receiving nutritious meals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 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
A diet of pork chops, pie a la mode, and chocolate was obviously better for your skin than healthy, nutritious plankton.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
