anthocyanin

noun

an·​tho·​cy·​a·​nin ˌan(t)-thə-ˈsī-ə-nən 

: any of various soluble glycoside pigments producing blue to red coloring in flowers and plants

Examples of anthocyanin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tart cherry juice contains anthocyanins, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pigment that may affect gut health. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 26 Nov. 2025

Cherries Like berries, cherries also contain anthocyanins, as well as flavonoids and fiber, offering similar anti-inflammatory benefits, Rupp added. —Christina Manian, Health, 26 Nov. 2025

Once that layer forms and sugars begin to accumulate in the leaf and then turn into anthocyanins, there’s little moving sap for those aphids to suck out of the leaf. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025

When chlorophyll is stored during the fall and winter, what’s left are the reds, oranges, and purples of fall that leaves get from compounds called carotenoids and anthocyanins, the travel website noted. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Anthocyanin, from Anthocyan, Anthokyan, an earlier name (from Greek antho- antho- + kyan-, in kyánōs "blue color") + -in -in entry 1 — more at cyan-

Note: Anthokyan was coined by the German pharmacist Ludwig Clamor Marquart (1804-81), in Die Farben der Blüthen (Bonn, 1835), p. 55: Anthokyan (von ἄνθος Blume, und κυάνωσις blaue Farbe) ist der färbende Stoff in der blauen, violetten und rothen und vermittelt ebenfalls die Farbe aller braunen und vieler pomeranzfarbigen Blumen ("Anthokyan [from ánthos flower, and kyánōsis blue color] is the coloring matter in blue, violet and red flowers, and imparts in any case color to all brown and many orange flowers"). A German form with the suffix -in and an English form with the suffix -ine were in use by the 1850's.

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

anthocyanin

noun

an·​tho·​cy·​a·​nin ˌan(t)-thə-ˈsī-ə-nən 

: any of various soluble pigments producing blue to red coloring in flowers and plants

Medical Definition

anthocyanin

noun

an·​tho·​cy·​a·​nin ˌan(t)-thə-ˈsī-ə-nən 

variants also anthocyan

-ˈsī-ən, -ˌan 

: any of various soluble glycoside pigments producing blue to red coloring in flowers and plants