What does nutrition mean?
Nutrition describes both the way the body obtains and uses food and the broader scientific study of how nutrients affect health. It includes the intake of substances such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water, as well as their digestion, absorption, and use for energy, growth, tissue repair, and disease prevention. The word is commonly used in contexts such as good nutrition, nutritional standards, and nutrition education, often with an emphasis on the quality and balance of a diet. Although people may speak informally about improving their nutrition, the term can also denote an academic discipline that examines the relationship between food, metabolism, and human health. It is useful because it describes not only food itself but also the biological processes through which food supports life and wellbeing.
nounNutrition is the process by which the body obtains and uses food and nutrients for growth, maintenance, energy, and repair. The term also refers to the study of the relationship between diet and health.
- The process of obtaining and using food and nutrients for health, growth, and maintenance.
- The scientific study of nutrients, diet, and their effects on the body.
"A balanced diet provides good nutrition for children during their rapid growth."
"The school is revising its nutrition policy to provide more fresh fruit and vegetables."
"Her research focuses on the relationship between childhood nutrition and long-term development."
Usually uncountable and therefore has no regular plural in ordinary usage.
"The program aims to improve nutrition among children in underserved communities."
Nutrition is not merely what you eat: it is the entire journey food takes through the body, from digestion to the cells that keep you alive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nutrition come from?
The word comes from Latin nutritio, meaning a feeding or nourishing, from nutrix, a nurse or caretaker, and ultimately from nutrire, to nourish or feed. It entered Middle English through Old French, initially referring to the process of feeding or sustaining the body. Its modern educational sense developed alongside the scientific study of food, digestion, and health.
Related word forms
How nutrition is actually used
Usually an uncountable noun in general use. In scientific and educational contexts, it can refer specifically to the study of nutrients and diet.