benzoic acid

noun ben·zo·ic acid \ ben-ˈzō-ik- \

Definition of benzoic acid

: a white crystalline acid C₆H₅COOH found naturally (as in benzoin or in cranberries) or made synthetically and used especially as a preservative of foods, as an antifungal agent in pharmaceuticals, and in organic synthesis

See benzoic acid defined for kids

Recent Examples of benzoic acid from the Web

Juul pods include glycerol, propylene glycol, natural oils, extracts and flavor, nicotine and benzoic acid, company officials say, but not diacetyl, a potentially harmful chemical used in other vaping products for flavoring.

— jill tucker, SFChronicle.com, "As Juul vaping surges among teens, health concerns grow," 27 May 2018
Juul’s e-cigarette liquid contains only five: glycerol, propylene glycol, nicotine, benzoic acid, and food-grade flavoring.

— jia tolentino, The New Yorker, "The Promise of Vaping and the Rise of Juul," 7 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of benzoic acid

International Scientific Vocabulary, from benzoin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1791

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

benzoic acid

noun ben·zo·ic acid \ ben-ˌzō-ik- \

medical Definition of benzoic acid

: a white crystalline acid C₆H₆O₂ found naturally (as in benzoin or in cranberries) or made synthetically and used especially as a preservative of foods, in medicine, and in organic synthesis