complex carbohydrate

noun

: 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

Examples of complex carbohydrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bifidobacterium infantis, a strain abundant in infants that helps establish a healthy microbiome foundation, digests complex carbohydrates and supports the production of short-chain fatty acids. —Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Eating 100-percent whole-wheat bread can support better health, thanks to its fiber, nutrients, and complex carbohydrates. —Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 19 May 2026

Boosts Energy Both farina and oatmeal are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates, providing a quick and sustained energy boost. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 18 May 2026

The authors argued that the typical American diet contained excessive calories and fat and lacked sufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for complex carbohydrate

• acetoacetate
• macroinvertebrate
• oxaloacetate
• phosphoenolpyruvate
• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate

Medical Definition

complex carbohydrate

noun

: 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