What does stunting mean?
Stunting means preventing or limiting growth, development, or progress. It is especially common in descriptions of children, plants, animals, economies, and organizations: inadequate nutrition may stunt a child's development, while poor conditions can stunt the growth of crops or businesses. The word is also used more broadly for anything that limits opportunity or advancement, such as a policy that stunts innovation or a setback that stunts a career. In these contexts, it suggests that growth is not merely slow but held back, often by an external constraint. Stunting derives from the older verb “stunt,” meaning to check, hinder, or restrict growth. Its strong association with incomplete physical development gives the word an especially vivid sense of potential being prevented from being realized.
The action or process of preventing or limiting growth, development, or progress.
"Researchers are investigating the causes of growth stunting in malnourished children."
Usually used in contexts involving biological growth, development, or broader progress; it is commonly uncountable.
To prevent or limit the growth, development, or progress of someone or something.
"Frequent interruptions stunted the team's ability to complete the project."
The form is the present participle or gerund of “stunt” and is commonly used with an object or in passive constructions.
Rare; the noun is normally used uncountably, as in “growth stunting.”
"The study documented stuntings in several young trees."
Stunting captures the idea that a single limitation can keep something from reaching its full potential.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stunting come from?
The word “stunting” comes from the verb “stunt,” which originally meant to check, hinder, or prevent from growing. That verb developed in relation to physical growth before extending to the limitation of development and progress more generally. The modern form “stunting” developed through the addition of the present-participle and gerund ending -ing. The related noun “stunt,” as in a daring feat performed for a film or performance, comes from a separate development of the same word and is not directly related to the sense of restricting growth.
Related word forms
How stunting is actually used
The word is commonly used for biological growth and for social, economic, or personal development. It is generally neutral but often conveys a serious or undesirable limitation.
Easily confused with stunting
Stunting means to restrict growth or progress, whereas stunning means to shock or render someone temporarily unable to respond.