vitamin

noun

vi·​ta·​min ˈvī-tə-mən 

British usually

ˈvi- 

: any of various organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of most animals and some plants, act especially as coenzymes and precursors of coenzymes in the regulation of metabolic processes but do not provide energy or serve as building units, and are present in natural foodstuffs or sometimes produced within the body

Examples of vitamin in a Sentence

This cereal contains essential vitamins and minerals.

Did you remember to take your vitamin?

Recent Examples on the Web

Packed with minerals and vitamins, the herbaceous perennial is surprisingly versatile and can easily be added to soups or used to make tea. —Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 27 Apr. 2026

Start your morning with vitamin C Dullness is one of the factors that makes wrinkles appear more pronounced. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Aldi plans to eliminate an additional 44 ingredients from its private-label food, vitamin and supplement products, expanding its ingredient standards as part of a broader effort to simplify product formulations. —New York Connect Team, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026

Because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, those with excess fat tend to have less of the vitamin available in the bloodstream for the body to readily use. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of vitamine, from Latin vita life + English amine

First Known Use

circa 1912, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vitamin

• B vitamin
• vitamin A
• vitamin B
• vitamin B complex
• vitamin C
• vitamin D
• vitamin E
• vitamin H
• vitamin K

Kids Definition

vitamin

noun

vi·​ta·​min ˈvīt-ə-mən 

: any of various substances that are necessary in very small amounts to the nutrition of most animals and some plants, that are important to the control of growth and development by activating and assisting in the function of enzymes, and that are present naturally in many foods or in some cases are produced within the body

Medical Definition

vitamin

noun

vi·​ta·​min ˈvīt-ə-mən, British also ˈvit- 

: any of various organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of most animals and some plants, act especially as coenzymes and precursors of coenzymes in the regulation of metabolic processes but do not provide energy or serve as building units, and are present in natural foodstuffs or are sometimes produced within the body