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

Boosts Energy Corn is a complex carbohydrate. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 30 Oct. 2025

It's classified as a complex carbohydrate, meaning it's digested more slowly by the body than simple or refined carbs such as white sugar. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2025

Choose whole foods, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates to maintain stable energy levels. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

And levels of Bacteroidota (a group associated with breaking down complex carbohydrates) had increased, while the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidota dropped significantly in the high-training phase. —New Atlas, 25 Aug. 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