heme

noun

ˈhēm 

: the deep red iron-containing prosthetic group C₃₄H₃₂N₄O₄Fe of hemoglobin and myoglobin

Examples of heme in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Studies have also linked the risks of certain cancers and Type 2 diabetes to heme iron, a form of the mineral that’s found only in animal tissue and is more easily absorbed than the iron in plants. —Rich Bellis, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026

Pair your non-heme-iron foods with heme-iron-rich foods, such as poultry and fish. —Joy Emeh, Health, 12 Mar. 2026

Other forms of iron in iron supplements include heme iron polypeptides (HIP), carbonyl iron, iron amino-acid chelates, and polysaccharide-iron complexes (PIC), which have fewer gastrointestinal side effects when compared to the ferric and ferrous salts. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Preventing Anemia Red meat contains heme iron, which is the type that your body most readily absorbs. —Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from hematin

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

heme

noun

ˈhēm 

: a deep red pigment that contains iron and is obtained from hemoglobin

Medical Definition

heme

noun

variants or chiefly British haem

ˈhēm 

: the deep red iron-containing prosthetic group C₃₄H₃₂N₄O₄Fe of hemoglobin and myoglobin that is a ferrous derivative of protoporphyrin and readily oxidizes to hematin or hemin

called also protoheme