undernourished

[ uhn-der-nur-isht, -nuhr- ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈnɜr ɪʃt, -ˈnʌr- /

not nourished with sufficient or proper food to maintain or promote health or normal growth.

not given essential elements for proper development: emotionally undernourished.

Nearby words

First recorded in 1925–30; under- + nourish + -ed²

Related formsun·der·nour·ish·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

“He was undernourished, not necessarily malnourished,” she said.
Obama Shut Out Congress for 2 Years About Bergdahl Deal, Key Senator Says|Tim Mak|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The undernourished proletariat lacked the initiative to go out where the food came from.
Greener Than You Think|Ward Moore
The person may feel satisfied, but he will be undernourished nevertheless.
Food Guide for War Service at Home|Katharine Blunt, Frances L. Swain, and Florence Powdermaker
Far too often we find children of the very poor who are undernourished because of lack of food fuel.
Food Guide for War Service at Home|Katharine Blunt, Frances L. Swain, and Florence Powdermaker

Weak and undernourished, the poor woman had been unable to withstand hardships and suffering in a cold, damp cellar.
Little Jeanne of France|Madeline Brandeis
Both were thin and wiry, with the gaunt lines of the undernourished showing plainly.
Claire|Leslie Burton Blades