Nutritional

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /njuːˈtɹɪʃ.ə.nəl/

Definitions

1. relating to the process of consuming and utilizing food substances that provide energy and support for the body's growth and health
2. pertaining to the essential components of food that contribute to bodily maintenance, energy production, and overall health improvement
3. associated with the substances found in food which are vital for growth, energy, and sustaining bodily functions

Etymology: "Nutritional" is a plain formation: the noun "nutrition" with the adjective-forming suffix "-al" added to it. The noun itself came into English from French, ultimately from Latin "nutritio," a word derived from "nutrire," meaning "to nourish" or "to suckle." The suffix has a longer pedigree, descending from Latin "-alis," which turned nouns into adjectives meaning "relating to" or "of the nature of." It reached English through Old French and Middle English, where "-al" became a productive way to make adjectives from nouns. Because the suffix is so common, English speakers rarely think of "nutritional" as a built word, but its meaning is exactly what the parts suggest: anything pertaining to nutrition, the process by which a body takes in and uses food. The word's modern sense, with its emphasis on nutrients and their effects on health, grew out of the broader idea of nourishment rather than departing from it.

Synonyms: dietary, nutrient