carotenoid

noun

ca·​rot·​en·​oid kə-ˈrä-tə-ˌnȯid 

variants or less commonly carotinoid

: any of various usually yellow to red pigments (such as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units

carotenoid adjective

Examples of carotenoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The red color comes from a bright red carotenoid pigment that acts like a sunscreen, protecting the algae’s green chlorophyll from harmful UV rays and making snow appear pinkish to reddish. —Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026

Rose hips are a rich source of bioactive compounds, particularly antioxidants like vitamin C, carotenoids, polyphenols, and tocopherols. —Joy Emeh, Health, 20 Jan. 2026

Add sweet potatoes, roasted carrots, or a spinach and kale blend to your meals for carotenoids. —Lauren Manaker, SELF, 19 Jan. 2026

Parsley Parsley is a good source of vitamin C and carotenoids, antioxidants that give plants their coloring. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carotenoid

• albuminoid
• arytenoid
• cannabinoid
• epidermoid
• epithelioid
• meteoroid
• paraboloid
• subarachnoid
• underemployed
• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid

Medical Definition

carotenoid

noun

ca·​rot·​en·​oid

variants also carotinoid

kə-ˈrät-ᵊn-ˌȯid 

: any of various usually yellow to red pigments (as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units

carotenoid adjective