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nutrition

/njuːˈtrɪʃ.ən/
IELTSAcademic
noun

Nutrition is the process of taking in and using food so the body stays healthy and grows well. It also means the study of how food affects health.

  • Good nutrition helps children grow.
  • She studied nutrition at university.
  • Poor nutrition can cause weakness.

Adinary Nuance

Nutrition is broader than food or diet. Food is what you eat, and diet is the food you usually eat. Nutrition focuses on how food affects your body, health, and growth, so it sounds more scientific and often appears in academic or health writing.

In other languages

Vietnamese
dinh dưỡng
Spanish
nutrición
Chinese
营养
Japanese
栄養
Korean
영양

Etymology

Nutrition comes from Latin nutrire, meaning “to feed” or “to nourish.” It entered English in the 15th century, first as a formal word for feeding and later for the study of food and health.

Common phrases

good nutritionproper nutritionnutrition factsnutrition-rich food

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is nutrition the same as diet?
No. Diet means the food you usually eat. Nutrition means how food helps your body.
Is nutrition a formal word?
Yes. It is common in health, science, and academic writing.
Can I say nutrition of food?
Usually, no. Say “the nutrition in food” or “food nutrition” instead.
What is nutrition in simple words?
It is the way food helps your body stay healthy and grow.