malnutrition

[mal-noo-trish-uhn, -nyoo-]

noun

1. lack of proper nutrition; inadequate or unbalanced nutrition.

malnutrition

/ ˌmælnjuːˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. lack of adequate nutrition resulting from insufficient food, unbalanced diet, or defective assimilation

malnutrition

1. Poor nutrition caused by an insufficient, oversufficient, or poorly balanced diet or by a medical condition, such as chronic diarrhea, resulting in inadequate digestion or utilization of foods.

malnutrition

1. Inadequate nutrition caused by the lack of a balanced diet or by disorders of the digestive system in which the nutrients from food cannot be absorbed properly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of malnutrition¹

First recorded in 1860–65; mal- + nutrition

Example Sentences

The ministry also says 370 people, have so far died during the war as a result of malnutrition and starvation, including three over the past 24 hours.

From BBC

The ministry also says 367 people, have so far died during the war as a result of malnutrition and starvation, including six over the past 24 hours.

From BBC

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry meanwhile said that 13 Palestinians, including three children, had died as a result of malnutrition across the territory over the past 24 hours.

From BBC

It comes as UN- backed food security experts have assessed half a million people are suffering from famine in Gaza City - and 132,000 children's lives are threatened by malnutrition.

From BBC

Israel's accusation that the IPC has used "Hamas data" appears to reference that some of the reporting about malnutrition in Gaza comes from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health there.

From BBC

Related Words

• hunger 
• starvation