Nutrient
What it means
A substance that supports health, energy, or growth.
Reach for it when naming a substance an organism uses for energy, growth, or maintenance
Iron is a nutrient that helps the body carry oxygen.
Words to choose between 6
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playful
fuel
Fits when energy provision is the useful metaphor
Careful Fuel ignores structural and regulatory roles.
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everyday
food component
Fits when the substance is being discussed within food
Careful Some nutrients come from supplements or the environment.
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warm
Fits when the sustaining effect matters more than the substance
Careful Nourishment also has a broad figurative use.
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professional
micronutrient
Fits when vitamins or minerals needed in small amounts are meant
Careful Many nutrients are macronutrients.
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formal
nutritive substance
Fits when a precise expanded label is needed
Careful The phrase is cumbersome in ordinary guidance.
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literary
sustenance
Fits when that which sustains life is the focus
Careful Sustenance usually means food as a whole.
Opposites 3
- toxin
- antinutrient
- contaminant
Common phrases 3
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essential nutrient
Iron is an essential nutrient for carrying oxygen.
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key nutrient
Protein became a key nutrient in the recovery plan.
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nutrient deficiency
The test identified a nutrient deficiency before symptoms worsened.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Nutrient needs and effects depend on organism, dose, form, and context; more is not always better.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated