monosaccharide

noun

mono·​sac·​cha·​ride ˌmä-nə-ˈsa-kə-ˌrīd How to pronounce monosaccharide (audio)
: a sugar that is not decomposable into simpler sugars by hydrolysis, is classed as either an aldose or ketose, and contains one or more hydroxyl groups per molecule

called also simple sugar

Examples of monosaccharide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Types of Sugars Several types of sugars exist, including: Glucose: This monosaccharide, or a simple carbohydrate, is the main type of sugar found in your blood. Anthea Levi, Health, 28 Nov. 2023 But there’s no science to say that fructose is a worse monosaccharide for the body than any other, Tewksbury says. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 24 June 2019 The first is monosaccharides, or single sugar molecules, which include fructose, galactose, and glucose. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 24 June 2019 The simplest, most fundamental unit of a carbohydrate is a monosaccharide—a single sugar molecule—made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 23 May 2019 Your body responds by secreting digestive enzymes to break down the disaccharide molecule sucrose (or table sugar) into the monosaccharide glucose. Kate Morgan, The Cut, 26 Mar. 2018 FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Don Rauf, chicagotribune.com, 23 June 2017 Glycolaldehyde is a monosaccharide sugar, the basic unit of carbohydrates. Clara Moskowitz, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2008

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monosaccharide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monosaccharide was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near monosaccharide

Cite this Entry

“Monosaccharide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monosaccharide. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

monosaccharide

noun
mono·​sac·​cha·​ride ˌmän-ə-ˈsak-ə-ˌrīd How to pronounce monosaccharide (audio)
: a sugar that cannot be split into simpler sugars

called also simple sugar

Medical Definition

monosaccharide

noun
mono·​sac·​cha·​ride ˌmän-ə-ˈsak-ə-ˌrīd How to pronounce monosaccharide (audio)
: a sugar not decomposable to simpler sugars by hydrolysis

called also simple sugar

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