nutrient

nutrient — noun

1. A chemical or natural substance found in food that a living thing uses to stay a

1.nounB2
Definition

A chemical or natural substance found in food that a living thing uses to stay alive, grow, and stay healthy.

Example

Fruits and vegetables contain many important nutrients that help our bodies stay strong.

often plural: nutrients

The soil in this area lacks the main nutrient needed for rice to grow well.

nutrient + needed for + [purpose]

Common collocations
  • absorb nutrients
  • contain nutrients
  • lack nutrients
  • rich in nutrients
  • essential nutrients
Synonyms
  • nourishment

    more about the overall substance that sustains life rather than a specific chemical component

  • food

    everyday term; less scientific and more general in meaning

  • mineral

    refers specifically to inorganic nutrients such as iron or calcium found in soil and water

Usage Note

When speaking about food and diet in general, the plural form 'nutrients' is far more common than the singular. Use the singular only when naming one specific substance, such as 'a key nutrient' or 'the main nutrient in milk'.

Common Mistakes

Plants need nutrient to grow.
Plants need nutrients to grow.
'nutrient' is a countable noun; use the plural when talking about food or requirements in general.

nutrient — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Nutrient, nourishment, nutrition, and mineral are related but distinct. A nutrient is a specific chemical substance a living thing needs — vitamin C, calcium, and protein are all nutrients. Nourishment focuses more on the total substance that sustains life ('The soup provided good nourishment') and sounds less scientific. Nutrition refers to the overall process or quality of eating well ('Good nutrition is important for health') — it is about the broad picture, not individual substances. Mineral is a narrower category: it refers only to inorganic nutrients such as iron, zinc, and magnesium. Use nutrient when you need a precise, scientific term for one specific food component. For everyday talk about healthy eating, nutrition is a better fit. For example: 'Spinach contains many nutrients including iron and calcium' sounds natural, while 'Spinach contains many nourishments' does not.

nourishmentnutrition ↗mineral ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • rich in nutrients
  • source of nutrients
  • nutrient intake

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'nutriens', meaning 'nourishing' or 'feeding', which is the present participle of 'nutrire' (to suckle, feed, or nourish). English borrowed it through French in the 17th century.