pectin

noun

pec·tin ˈpek-tən

: any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

also : a commercial product rich in pectins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Instead of just providing you with a strong dose of probiotics and expecting your gut to be okay, Ikaria Lean Belly Juice uses citrus pectin to balance that gut bacteria. —

James Robinson, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022 Studies have shown that fruit pectin can help reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea in people with IBS, and it has also been shown to reduce stomach cramps and flatulence. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2022 Enriched with orange blossom, rose and sage waters, apple pectin, and the brand’s healing concentrate, this elixir promises to purify the skin. —

Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2022 Extra: Gels can be made out of many different materials, such as gelatin, agar, diaper filling, tapioca, seaweed, or fruit pectin. —

Science Buddies, Scientific American, 16 Feb. 2012 How to find pectin in your fruit and use it to give your jellies the proper set. —

Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2022 Many recipes call for commercial pectin, but sugar and lemon are two natural ingredients that will help the cause as well. —

Casey Barber, CNN, 9 May 2022 The recipe calls for apples with a specific pectin content, which are baked, liquefied, whipped, layered, rendered into meringue, and then baked again for sixteen hours. —

Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2022 Once the citrus peel is boiled, the pectin is leached into the cooking liquid. —

Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pectin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

French pectine, from pectique

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pectin was in 1838

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pectin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pectin. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.

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Kids Definition

pectin

noun

pec·tin ˈpek-tən

: any of various substances in plant tissues that dissolve in water and produce a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

also : a commercial product rich in pectins

Medical Definition

pectin

noun

pec·tin ˈpek-tən

: any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

: a commercial product rich in pectins and used chiefly in making jelly and other foods, in pharmaceutical products especially for the control of diarrhea, and in cosmetics