complex carbohydrate

noun

Definition of complex carbohydrate

: a polysaccharide (such as starch or cellulose) consisting of usually hundreds or thousands of monosaccharide units; also : a food (such as rice or pasta) composed primarily of such polysaccharides

Recent Examples of complex carbohydrate from the Web

Both are fiber-packed, gluten-free sources of complex carbohydrates that give you long-lasting energy and steady blood sugar levels.

— marygrace taylor, Woman's Day, "These 10 Foods Are Cheaper and Healthier Than Pricey 'Superfoods'," 24 Nov. 2014
Lentils are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates while low in fat and calories.

— kelly heisler, Cincinnati.com, "Eat healthy: Tasty chili recipe from Kelly Heisler, MPT, PT," 16 Apr. 2018
This comes from the mung beans, which are full of polysaccharides—a complex carbohydrate that reads sweet on our tongues.

— alison roman, WSJ, "Plant-Based ‘Meat’ and ‘Fish’ May Be the Future. But How Do They Taste?," 12 Apr. 2018
Singapore Airlines, for instance, recently introduced Deliciously Wholesome, in-flight meals that were designed with the help of a nutritionist and are rich in complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and fiber.

— shivani vora, New York Times, "Where to Get Healthier in 2018," 9 Jan. 2018
But complex carbohydrates, like those found in whole grain breads, grains like quinoa and farro, and yes, fruits, veggies, and dairy, are all part of a healthy diet.

— amy marturana, SELF, "Are Carbs Bad for You? What Eating Carbs Actually Does to Your Body," 6 Jan. 2018
The meals contain a balance of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and lean meats.

— carlos frías, miamiherald, "How to make a meal with all that hurricane food and no power," 6 Sep. 2017

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

First Known Use of complex carbohydrate

1938

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

complex carbohydrate

noun

medical Definition of complex carbohydrate

: a polysaccharide (as starch or cellulose) consisting of usually hundreds or thousands of monosaccharide units; also : a food (as rice or pasta) composed primarily of such polysaccharides