essential amino acid

noun

: any of various amino acids that are required for normal health and growth in many vertebrates, are either not manufactured in the body or manufactured in insufficient quantities, are usually supplied by dietary protein, and include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine compare nonessential amino acid

Examples of essential amino acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Liver is high in protein, and so is the kidney, which provides all essential amino acids. —Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025

Prenatal phthalate exposure was also linked with lower levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan (or 5-HTP), which then turns into serotonin. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid (building block of protein) that the body doesn't produce, meaning it must be obtained through food. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 16 Mar. 2025

Dairy milk promotes growth and recovery Dairy milk is an excellent source of high-quality protein, containing all nine essential amino acids necessary for muscle repair and growth, said Heckler. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for essential amino acid

• antacid
• placid

Kids Definition

essential amino acid

noun

: an amino acid that is necessary for proper growth of the animal body and that cannot be made by the body in sufficient amounts but must be obtained from food containing proteins

Medical Definition

essential amino acid

noun

: any of various alpha-amino acids that are required for normal health and growth, are either not manufactured in the body or manufactured in insufficient quantities, are usually supplied by dietary protein, and in humans include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine