malnutrition

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌmælnuːˈtrɪʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A condition resulting from an inadequate or unbalanced diet, leading to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in the intake of energy and nutrients, which can cause measurable adverse effects on body composition, function, and clinical outcomes.; A state of poor nutrition caused by insufficient intake of food or essential nutrients, often associated with poverty, famine, or disease.; Overnutrition or excessive intake of certain nutrients, leading to conditions such as obesity or vitamin toxicity.; A condition in which the body does not receive the proper balance of nutrients required for healthy growth and development, particularly in children.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

severe malnutritionsuffer from malnutritionchildhood malnutritionprotein-energy malnutritioncombat malnutritionrate of malnutrition

Derivatives

malnourishedmalnourishmentnutritionnutritionalnutritiousnutrient

Synonyms

undernourishmentundernutritionstarvationmalnourishment

Antonyms

overnutrition

Commonly confused

undernutrition
EN: 'Undernutrition' specifically refers to insufficient caloric/nutrient intake, while 'malnutrition' is broader and can include imbalanced or excessive nutrition as well.
starvation
EN: 'Starvation' implies extreme, life-threatening lack of food, while 'malnutrition' can range from mild to severe and includes nutrient imbalances.

Spelling tips

EN: The prefix is 'mal-' (one 'l'), and the word is written as one unhyphenated word. Do not confuse with 'malnourished' (adjective form).

💬 Examples

  1. The children in the refugee camp were suffering from severe malnutrition.

  2. Malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of death among children under five in developing countries.

  3. In wealthy nations, malnutrition often manifests as overnutrition and obesity rather than undernourishment.

  4. Early childhood malnutrition can lead to stunted growth and cognitive impairments that last a lifetime.