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

Simple carbohydrates include sugars found in fruits, some vegetables, dairy products, and honey, while complex carbohydrates come from starch and fiber in plants (including grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes). —Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025

Eat more complex carbohydrates, which increase tryptophan. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 11 June 2025

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made of long chains of simple sugar molecules, or monosaccharides. —Paul McClure 10, New Atlas, 10 June 2025

Instead, choose a breakfast high in protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and healthy fats to help fuel your morning and keep you feeling full.13 Is Fasting Healthy? —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 31 May 2025

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