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 bright orange hue comes from the sea buckthorn oil, which is naturally rich in lycopene and carotenoids, packed with omegas and fatty acids that help plump and nourish the skin. —Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025

Leafy greens like spinach contain vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, iron, and carotenoids. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Experts believe that carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and various vitamins can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain.14 One study found that a moderate intake of natural fruit and vegetable juice was linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025

Farmed salmon is only its specific shade of pink because carotenoids—naturally occurring molecules in the diets of wild salmon that feed on krill and shrimp—are added into their feed. —Bedatri D. Choudhury, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 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