: any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions at body temperatures
Examples of enzyme in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This copy number variation correlates directly with salivary amylase protein levels — more copies, more enzyme, more starch-digesting capacity.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Proponents argue that cooking can destroy certain nutrients and natural enzymes found in food.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
As the caterpillar ingests the leaf, its gut enzymes chop up the plant’s cellular engines and their pieces, including In11, are regurgitated back onto the leaf’s surface, albeit at extremely small concentrations.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
To know whether metals and minerals in soil could spontaneously carry out these reactions, the researchers would have to eliminate enzymes from the mixture.
—Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for enzyme
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Proponents argue that cooking can destroy certain nutrients and natural enzymes found in food.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
As the caterpillar ingests the leaf, its gut enzymes chop up the plant’s cellular engines and their pieces, including In11, are regurgitated back onto the leaf’s surface, albeit at extremely small concentrations.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
To know whether metals and minerals in soil could spontaneously carry out these reactions, the researchers would have to eliminate enzymes from the mixture.
—Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for enzyme
Cite this Entry
“Enzyme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enzyme. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enzyme
noun
en·zyme
ˈen-ˌzīm 
: any of various complex proteins produced by living cells that bring about or speed up reactions (as in the digestion of food) without being permanently altered
enzymatic
adjective
ˌen-zə-ˈmat-ik
enzymatically
adverb
-ˈmat-i-k(ə-)lē
Medical Definition
enzyme
noun
en·zyme
ˈen-ˌzīm
: any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions at body temperatures
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
