English Reference
Adjective

nutritional

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /nuˈtɹɪʃənəɫ/ UK /njuːtɹˈɪʃənəl/ nu·tri·tion·al

adj.relating to the food you eat and how it affects your health. You use this to describe the quality or value of what is inside a meal.

adj.relating to the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. Often modifies nouns like 'value', 'content', or 'requirements'.


SIMPLE

The nutritional value of this snack is very low.

CONTEXTUAL

Schools are working to improve the nutritional quality of the lunches served to students every day.

COMPLEX

Public health experts argue that mandatory nutritional labeling on processed foods is essential for helping consumers make informed decisions about their long-term dietary habits.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often used in formal or scientific contexts regarding diet.

Pitfall
the nutrition valuethe nutritional value

Learners often use the noun 'nutrition' as a modifier when the adjective 'nutritional' is the standard colocation for 'value' or 'content'.

The nutritional quality of pollen and the diversity of plants producing it may also be important.

ScienceDaily· 19 Aug 2026

Scientists are also developing 3D-printed foods that can be customized to meet nutritional needs and improve variety on long missions.

The Conversation· 3 Aug 2026

From nutrition + -al.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated