glycogen

noun

gly·​co·​gen ˈglī-kə-jən 

: a white amorphous tasteless polysaccharide (C₆H₁₀O₅)_x that is the principal form in which glucose is stored in animal tissues and especially muscle and liver tissue

Examples of glycogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sleep also restores glycogen, a critical fuel source for brain cells. —Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026

Some evidence suggests creatine also increases muscle glycogen storage, which could help with recovery and energy replenishment between sessions. —Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 8 Jan. 2026

In response to this increase in blood sugar, your pancreas releases insulin, a hormone that helps move glucose out of the blood and into your cells for immediate energy or into storage as glycogen and fat, helping bring blood sugar levels back down. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 24 Nov. 2025

Approximately 20% of fructose is stored as liver glycogen. —Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

glycogen

noun

gly·​co·​gen ˈglī-kə-jən 

: a white tasteless substance that is the chief form in which glucose is stored in animals

Medical Definition

glycogen

noun

gly·​co·​gen ˈglī-kə-jən 

: a white amorphous tasteless polysaccharide (C₆H₁₀O₅)_x that constitutes the principal form in which glucose is stored in animal tissues, occurs especially in the liver and in muscle and also in fungi and yeasts, and resembles starch in molecular structure and in the formation of only glucose on complete hydrolysis

called also animal starch