sugar alcohol

noun

plural sugar alcohols

: a polyalcohol that is typically derived from a sugar molecule (as of xylose or glucose), that occurs naturally in some plants or is manufactured by hydrogenating sugars, and that is often used as a low-calorie sweetener in foods (such as candy or chewing gum) and oral hygiene products (such as toothpaste or mouthwash)

Some sugar alcohols can be found in whole foods. Pineapples, olives, asparagus, sweet potatoes and carrots are natural sources of mannitol. … But the sugar alcohols often present in packaged products … are synthetically produced.

—Hannah Seo

Xylitol is safe for humans although it can cause diarrhea if consumed in large doses. This sugar alcohol has also been shown to help reduce bacteria in the mouth, which helps prevent cavities. That's why it's popular in sugar-free gums and candies.

—Barbara Intermill

Examples of sugar alcohol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used widely as a low-calorie substitute for sugar. — Lauren Manaker Ms, HEALTH, 8 Sep. 2026

Drinking water throughout the day can help your digestive system manage the extra fluid sugar alcohols draw in more comfortably. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 6 Sep. 2026

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol, Harvard Health says, that can be processed from a plant fiber, xylan, and tastes as sweet as sugar — but with half the calories. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

The report also does not establish whether high levels of xylitol in the blood necessarily reflect dietary consumption, as the sugar alcohol can also be produced naturally in the body as part of glucose metabolism. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sugar alcohol

• chloramphenicol
• dithiothreitol
• geospatial
• isopropanol
• paracetamol
• peroxisomal
• visuospatial
• aerosol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball

Medical Definition

sugar alcohol

noun

: a polyalcohol that is typically derived from a sugar molecule (as of xylose or glucose), that occurs naturally in some plants or is manufactured by hydrogenating sugars, and that is often used as a low-calorie sweetener in foods (such as candy or chewing gum) and oral hygiene products (such as toothpaste or mouthwash)

… habitual use of xylitol, a sugar alcohol …, can be associated with significant reduction in the incidence of dental caries and with remineralization of both enamel and dentin caries lesions.

—Kauko K Mäkinen, International Journal of Dentistry