# nutrient

/ˈnutɹiənt/ (US) · /njˈuːtɹiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nutrient
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. source of nourishment

noun · CEFR B2

a chemical or substance that a living thing needs to stay healthy and grow.

For teachers: a substance that an organism must obtain from its environment for growth and the maintenance of life.

- Vegetables are full of important nutrients like vitamins and fiber.
- The soil was depleted of essential nutrients after years of intensive farming without crop rotation.

Usage: Commonly used in the plural when referring to various types of food components.

### 2. providing nourishment

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

describing something that provides the things your body needs to grow.

For teachers: providing nourishment or serving as a source of food for an organism.

- The scientist studied the nutrient properties of the new grain.
- The nutrient value of the algae was assessed to determine its suitability as a sustainable biofuel source.

Usage: In modern English, 'nutritious' is much more common as an adjective; 'nutrient' as an adjective is largely restricted to technical or academic writing.

## Examples

- Vegetables are full of every nutrient your body needs.
- Farmers often add fertilizer to the soil to replace the nutrient levels that crops use up during the growing season.
- While the primary focus of the diet was caloric intake, the researchers discovered that a lack of a single essential nutrient was causing the widespread fatigue observed in the study group.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.