# stunting

/stˈʌntɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stunting
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

poor growth in young children who do not get enough healthy food for a long time, so they stay too short for their age.

For teachers: impaired linear growth in young children resulting from chronic undernutrition or repeated illness, typically measured by low height for age.

## Examples

- Poor food causes stunting in young children.
- The clinic screens toddlers for stunting by measuring height for age and advising parents on balanced meals.
- Persistent childhood stunting reflects not only food shortages but also repeated infections and poor sanitation that prevent the body from absorbing nutrients during critical years.

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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.