fructose

noun

fruc·​tose ˈfrək-ˌtōs  ˈfrük-  ˈfru̇k- 

-ˌtōz

1

: a crystalline sugar C₆H₁₂O₆ sweeter and more soluble than glucose

2

: the very sweet levorotatory d-form of fructose that occurs especially in fruit juices and honey

called also fruit sugar, levulose

Examples of fructose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For one, their sweetness comes from natural sugars such as fructose and glucose, so eating large amounts can raise overall calorie and sugar intake – especially for those managing weight, insulin sensitivity or blood-glucose levels. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Nov. 2025

The syrup's low GI (ranging from 10-27), is due to its high fructose content, which has a smaller immediate effect on blood glucose and insulin levels compared to other sugars, like glucose or sucrose. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 13 Nov. 2025

Honey may be diluted with cheaper sweeteners, like high-fructose corn syrup. —Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025

Even people who appear healthy can experience liver stress and insulin resistance if their gut microbes aren’t equipped to handle excess fructose. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin frūctus fruit entry 1 + -ose entry 2

Note: The term was apparently introduced by the British chemist William Allen Miller (1817-70) in Elements of Chemistry: Theoretical and Practical, Part III, Organic Chemistry (London, 1857), p. 57.

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fructose

• arkose
• engross
• faroese
• fucose
• gatos
• glucose
• jocose
• morose
• vadose
• adios
• adipose
• amylose

Kids Definition

fructose

noun

fruc·​tose ˈfrək-ˌtōs  ˈfru̇k- 

: a very sweet sugar that dissolves easily and occurs especially in fruit juices and honey

Medical Definition

fructose

noun

fruc·​tose ˈfrək-ˌtōs  ˈfrük-  ˈfru̇k- 

-ˌtōz

1

: an optically active sugar C₆H₁₂O₆ that differs from glucose in having a ketonic rather than an aldehydic carbonyl group

2

: the very sweet soluble levorotatory D-form of fructose that occurs especially in fruit juices and honey

called also levulose