fructose

noun

fruc·​tose ˈfrək-ˌtōs  ˈfrük-  ˈfru̇k- 

-ˌtōz

1

: a crystalline sugar C₆H₁₂O₆ sweeter and more soluble than glucose

2

: the very sweet levorotatory d-form of fructose that occurs especially in fruit juices and honey

called also fruit sugar, levulose

Examples of fructose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes high-fructose corn syrup, some preservatives and artificial dyes. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025

The fact that there is only one bond means that during digestion, the bond is easily and quickly broken, and the glucose and fructose are immediately set free, rushing into the bloodstream. —Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025

Sugary drinks with high-fructose corn syrup may cause blood sugar spikes, energy crashes, and weight gain. —Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025

Tagatose is a monosaccharide, or simple sugar, just like fructose and glucose. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin frūctus fruit entry 1 + -ose entry 2

Note: The term was apparently introduced by the British chemist William Allen Miller (1817-70) in Elements of Chemistry: Theoretical and Practical, Part III, Organic Chemistry (London, 1857), p. 57.

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fructose

• arkose
• engross
• faroese
• fucose
• gatos
• glucose
• jocose
• morose
• vadose
• adios
• adipose
• amylose

Kids Definition

fructose

noun

fruc·​tose ˈfrək-ˌtōs  ˈfru̇k- 

: a very sweet sugar that dissolves easily and occurs especially in fruit juices and honey

Medical Definition

fructose

noun

fruc·​tose ˈfrək-ˌtōs  ˈfrük-  ˈfru̇k- 

-ˌtōz

1

: an optically active sugar C₆H₁₂O₆ that differs from glucose in having a ketonic rather than an aldehydic carbonyl group

2

: the very sweet soluble levorotatory D-form of fructose that occurs especially in fruit juices and honey

called also levulose