Macronutrient
/ˌmækroʊˈnuːtriənt/noun
A nutrient required by the body in relatively large amounts, such as carbohydrate, protein, or fat.
Did you know?The word combines Greek makros, “large,” with a Latin-derived term from nutrire, “to nourish,” showing how modern nutrition blends Greek scientific classification with Roman vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nuH-
“To nourish or feed; the reconstructed root behind later Latin words for nourishment.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
makrós
“Long, large, or great in extent.”
Classical Latin
Latin
nutrīre
“To nourish, feed, or foster growth.”
17th Century
English
nutrient
“A substance that nourishes or promotes growth, borrowed through French and Latin scientific vocabulary.”
20th Century
English
macronutrient
“A nutrient needed in relatively large quantities, formed with the scientific prefix macro-.”