para-aminobenzoic acid

noun

para-ami·​no·​ben·​zo·​ic acid ˌper-ə-ə-ˌmē-ˌnō-ˌben-ˈzō-ik- 

ˌper-ə-ˌa-mə-(ˌ)nō-, 

ˌpa-rə-

: a colorless para-substituted aminobenzoic acid that is a growth factor of the vitamin B complex and is used as a sunscreen

called also PABA

Examples of para-aminobenzoic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Look for a brand that has no fragrance and doesn’t contain zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid; dogs often lick sunscreen off their skin, and both ingredients are toxic. — Washington Post, 3 June 2021

That reaction yields para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential nutrient that allows the bacteria to grow. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for para-aminobenzoic acid

• antacid
• placid

Medical Definition

para-aminobenzoic acid

noun

para-ami·​no·​ben·​zo·​ic acid ˈpar-ə-ə-ˌmē-nō-ˌben-ˌzō-ik-, ˈpar-ə-ˌam-ə-(ˌ)nō- 

: a colorless para-substituted aminobenzoic acid that is a growth factor of the vitamin B complex and is used as a sunscreen

called also PABA