: any of a class of often fragrant organic compounds that can be represented by the formula RCOOR′ and that are usually formed by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water
Examples of ester in a Sentence
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Research has shown that fruity esters can mask smoke taint, and that the molecules responsible for the cut-grass and green-apple notes of Sauvignon Blanc enhance it.
—
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
The two companies will use the biofuel UCOME, which stands for used cooking oil methyl ester, as an alternative to traditional fuels.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Dec. 2025
Made with nourishing shea butter, the formula also has a botanical wax blend that gives it a creamy, buildable texture, and its pigment, available in black and brown, is made of a vegan ester with intense payoff.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
This has made chemical recycling – breaking the ester bonds to recover the original chemical building blocks – an increasingly important goal.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Nov. 2025
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Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
The two companies will use the biofuel UCOME, which stands for used cooking oil methyl ester, as an alternative to traditional fuels.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Dec. 2025
Made with nourishing shea butter, the formula also has a botanical wax blend that gives it a creamy, buildable texture, and its pigment, available in black and brown, is made of a vegan ester with intense payoff.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025
This has made chemical recycling – breaking the ester bonds to recover the original chemical building blocks – an increasingly important goal.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ester
Cite this Entry
“Ester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ester. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ester
noun
es·ter
ˈes-tər 
: an organic compound formed by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol
Medical Definition
ester
noun
es·ter
ˈes-tər
: any of a class of often fragrant compounds that can be represented by the formula RCOOR′ and that are usually formed by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol usually with elimination of water
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