aspartame

noun as·par·tame \ ˈas-pər-ˌtām , ə-ˈspär-ˌtām \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of aspartame

: a crystalline compound C₁₄H₁₈N₂O₅ that is a diamide synthesized from phenylalanine and aspartic acid and that is used as a low-calorie sweetener

Recent Examples of aspartame from the Web

And even the most organic of eaters can sometimes reach for conventional breath mints in the name of fast freshness—ending up with a mouthful of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharin.

— kris rile, Good Housekeeping, "7 Best Breath Mints That Aren't Packed With Chemicals," 12 July 2017
Researchers fed groups of rats diets high in sugar or artificial sweeteners including aspartame and acesulfame potassium.

— brett molina, USA TODAY, "Artificial sweeteners can still lead to obesity and diabetes, study claims," 23 Apr. 2018
Also called nonnutritive sweeteners, these can be synthetic, such as saccharin and aspartame, or naturally derived, such as stevia.

— eunice zhang, Washington Post, "Diet drinks may seem like a good idea, but their effects may surprise you," 3 June 2018
One animal study showed that artificial sweeteners saccharin, sucralose and aspartame appeared to spike blood sugar more than regular sugar.

— molly kimball, NOLA.com, "Cutting back on sugar? A guide to sweetener choices," 8 May 2018
Animal studies have linked aspartame to higher risk of several types of cancer, including lymphoma and leukemia.

— molly kimball, NOLA.com, "Cutting back on sugar? A guide to sweetener choices," 8 May 2018
The four new versions contain aspartame and acesulfame K, like Coca-Cola Zero Sugar does.

— zlati meyer, USA TODAY, "Diet Coke sales bubble up again, thanks to 4 new Millennial-centric flavors," 24 Apr. 2018
The original Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame.

— zlati meyer, USA TODAY, "Diet Coke sales bubble up again, thanks to 4 new Millennial-centric flavors," 24 Apr. 2018
The sweetener was discovered in the 1960s and is often paired with aspartame, especially in diet sodas.

— beth kowitt, Fortune, "This Is the Controversial Ingredient Inside the New Diet Coke Flavors," 10 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of aspartame

aspartic acid + phenylalanine + methyl + ester

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1972

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

aspartame

noun as·par·tame \ ˈas-pər-ˌtām , ə-ˈspär- \

medical Definition of aspartame

: a crystalline dipeptide ester C₁₄H₁₈N₂O₅ that is synthesized from the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid and is used as a low-calorie sweetener — see nutrasweet