nutrition

UK: /njuːˈtrɪʃ^ən/

US: /nuˈtrɪʃən, nju-/

US: (no̅o̅ trish′ən, nyo̅o̅-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

nu•tri•tion /nuˈtrɪʃən, nyu-/   n. [uncountable]

1. Nutrition the study or science of the food and diet requirements of humans and animals for proper health and development:
   majoring in nutrition.
2. Nutrition the process by which living things take in and use food material.
3. Nutrition food; nutriment.

nu•tri•tion•al, adj. 
nu•tri•tion•al•ly, adv. 
nu•tri•tion•ist, n. [countable]
nu•tri•tive /ˈnutrɪtɪv, ˈnyu-/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

nu•tri•tion  (no̅o̅ trish′ən, nyo̅o̅-), n. 

1. Nutrition the act or process of nourishing or of being nourished.
2. Nutrition the science or study of, or a course of study in, nutrition, esp. of humans.
3. Nutrition the process by which organisms take in and utilize food material.
4. Nutrition food;
   nutriment.
5. Nutrition the pursuit of this science as an occupation or profession.

• Late Latin nūtrītiōn- (stem of nūtrītiō) a feeding, equivalent. to Latin nūtrīt(us) (past participle of nūtrīre to feed, nourish) + -iōn- -ion
• late Middle English 1375–1425

nu•tri′tion•al, nu•tri′tion•ar′y, adj. 
nu•tri′tion•al•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nutrition / njuːˈtrɪʃən/ noun

1. a process in animals and plants involving the intake of nutrient materials and their subsequent assimilation into the tissues
2. the act or process of nourishing
3. the study of nutrition, esp in humans

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin nūtrītiō, from nūtrīre to nourish

nuˈtritional, nuˈtritionary adjective