What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
malnourishment
Example
The child's malnourishment was evident from his pale skin and thin frame. [malnourishment: noun]
Example
The doctor advised the patient to eat a balanced diet to avoid malnourishment. [malnourishment: noun]
undernourishment
Example
The refugees suffered from undernourishment due to the lack of food supplies. [undernourishment: noun]
Example
The doctor diagnosed the patient with undernourishment due to her low body weight and fatigue. [undernourishment: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Undernourishment is more commonly used than malnourishment in everyday language, especially in the context of humanitarian and development work. Malnourishment is more commonly used in medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between malnourishment and undernourishment?
Both words are formal and are typically used in professional and technical contexts, such as medical, humanitarian, and development work.
