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

Elderberry Is Rich in Antioxidants Elderberries are high in anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that gives the berries their deep purple color. —Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026

Berries Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are teeming with anthocyanins, or plant pigments that give fruits and vegetables their purple-red color. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026

Other options include 100% grape or berry juice, which contain anthocyanins—a type of polyphenol—as well as resveratrol, another anti-inflammatory compound. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 2 Jan. 2026

So, while anthocyanins may indeed provide some photoprotection, the fact that those pigments have been produced in the leaf means that there’s little to no ability of the leaf to export anything at that point. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 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