lactic

adjective

lac·​tic ˈlak-tik How to pronounce lactic (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to milk
b
: obtained from sour milk or whey
2
: involving the production of lactic acid

Examples of lactic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But metformin can cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2024 Evidence suggests that metformin may increase the risk of a potentially fatal condition called lactic acidosis, which is a buildup of lactic acid in the blood. Danielle Weiss, Verywell Health, 29 Aug. 2023 The elixir pairs peptides, AHA/BHA (specifically, glycolic, mandelic, lactic, and phytic acid), bioferments, shea butter, and papain into a silky exfoliant that smooths skin texture, conditions flaky skin, and soothes irritation. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024 The core exfoliating benefits come from the pairing of retinol with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and a blend of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2024 Both ingredients can appear on labels with a variety of names — including retinyl acetate or all-trans retinoic acid for the former, and glycolic, lactic or citric acid for the latter. Katie Mogg, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024 The mix of retinol, urea, lactic and glycolic acid is great for exfoliating, smoothing, and evening out my body's skin tone. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024 Add this clarifying body wash, which contains chemical exfoliants, including salicylic, lactic, and mandelic acids, to your shower routine. Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2024 On the palate was an intriguing mélange of that yellow apple and hazelnut, but also with savory herbs, and a lactic quality that was not quite cream, but, yet, was creamy. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lactic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lactic was in 1790

Dictionary Entries Near lactic

Cite this Entry

“Lactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lactic. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

lactic

adjective
lac·​tic ˈlak-tik How to pronounce lactic (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to milk
b
: obtained from sour milk or whey
2
: involving the production of lactic acid
lactic fermentation

More from Merriam-Webster on lactic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!