saccharin

noun

sac·​cha·​rin ˈsa-k(ə-)rən How to pronounce saccharin (audio)
: a crystalline compound C7H5NO3S that is unrelated to the carbohydrates, is several hundred times sweeter than sucrose, and is used as a calorie-free sweetener

Examples of saccharin in a Sentence

soft drinks flavored with saccharin
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The specific sweeteners included in the study were aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose, according to the study's press release. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025 When looking at individual sweeteners, consuming acesulfame-K, aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol and xylitol was associated with a faster decline in overall cognition, particularly in memory. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 While the study didn't identify which artificial sweeteners were at play, likely types include aspartame, saccharin and sucralose. New Atlas, 29 July 2025 For many companies, tariffs mean higher prices on key commodities, like Peruvian avocados or saccharin to make toothpaste, which will eat into their earnings. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for saccharin

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saccharin was in 1885

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saccharin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saccharin. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

saccharin

noun
sac·​cha·​rin ˈsak-(ə-)rən How to pronounce saccharin (audio)
: a very sweet white substance that is used as a calorie-free sweetener
Etymology

derived from Latin saccharum "sugar," from Greek sakcharon "sugar"; of Sanskrit origin

Medical Definition

saccharin

noun
sac·​cha·​rin ˈsak-(ə-)rən How to pronounce saccharin (audio)
: a crystalline cyclic imide C7H5NO3S that is unrelated to the carbohydrates, is several hundred times sweeter than sucrose, and is used as a calorie-free sweetener

called also benzosulfimide, gluside

More from Merriam-Webster on saccharin

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