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

Once glycogen stores are depleted, your body starts burning fat for fuel.2 The cycle of storing nutrients after eating and burning them during fasting is thought to improve metabolic flexibility. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 11 Aug. 2025

Water weight floats up and down, while glycogen fluctuates. —Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

In addition, each pound of glycogen is stored with 2.7 pounds of water. —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025

This will likely come in the form of carbohydrates, like glycogen in the muscles. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 3 July 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