Meaning & use

malnutrition

noun·Academic

A condition caused by not eating enough, or not eating a balanced enough diet, to stay healthy.

See it in a sentence

Malnutrition remains a serious problem in regions affected by famine.

The clinic screens children for signs of malnutrition during routine checkups.

A note on using this word

Malnutrition can result from too little food or an unbalanced diet, and can occur alongside obesity when nutrients, not calories, are lacking.

Words with a similar meaning

undernourishment

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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