antioxidant

noun an·ti·ox·i·dant \ ˌan-tē-ˈäk-sə-dənt , ˌan-ˌtī- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of antioxidant

: a substance (such as beta-carotene or vitamin C) that inhibits oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen, peroxides, or free radicals

—

antioxidant

adjective

See antioxidant defined for English-language learners

See antioxidant defined for kids

Recent Examples of antioxidant from the Web

Matcha, which is a type of green tea, contains a type of antioxidant called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which has been linked to fighting cancer.

— Time, "Weekend Recipe: A Matcha Breakfast Bowl With Kiwi," 25 May 2018
No other food even comes close to mushrooms as a source of both of these antioxidants.

— robert beelman, CNN, "The humble mushroom is the newest superfood," 25 Apr. 2018
Tea infusions typically only contain 90 to 300 mg of antioxidants, while most supplements contain up to 1,000 mg, according to the EFSA.

— emily price, Fortune, "Green Tea Supplements Could Be Hurting Your Liver, Researchers Say," 18 Apr. 2018
Most experts encourage those with celiac disease to eat oats that are free of gluten because of their many nutritional benefits, which include high amounts of antioxidants and fiber that may have benefits for blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

— sophie egan, New York Times, "How Can Oats, Which Don’t Contain Gluten, Be Labeled ‘Gluten Free’?," 13 Apr. 2018
The oolong tea is chock-full of antioxidants and allspice aids digestion.

— shelbie lynn bostedt, RedEye Chicago, "Drink your way to health with these 'nutritious' cocktails," 8 June 2017
Dark chocolate is touted for its sky-high levels of antioxidants like phenols, natural plant compounds that have been shown to protect your heart and improve memory.

— marygrace taylor, Woman's Day, "These 10 Foods Are Cheaper and Healthier Than Pricey 'Superfoods'," 24 Nov. 2014
It's also packed with antioxidants for some nice anti-aging benefits.

— garrett munce, GQ, "The Best Moisturizers with SPF Will Preserve Your Good Looks for Years to Come," 7 Apr. 2018
An antioxidant is like a soldier on a suicide mission.

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "Free radicals, antioxidants and why you should maybe drink more red wine," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antioxidant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of antioxidant

1919

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

ANTIOXIDANT Defined for English Language Learners

antioxidant

noun

Definition of antioxidant for English Language Learners

: a substance that is added to food and other products to prevent harmful chemical reactions in which oxygen is combined with other substances

Medical Dictionary

antioxidant

noun an·ti·ox·i·dant \ ˌant-ē-ˈäk-səd-ənt, ˌan-ˌtī- \

medical Definition of antioxidant

: any of various substances (as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and alpha-tocopherol) that inhibit oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen and peroxides and that include many held to protect the living body from the deleterious effects of free radicals

—