carotenoid

noun

ca·​rot·​en·​oid kə-ˈrä-tə-ˌnȯid 

variants or less commonly carotinoid

: any of various usually yellow to red pigments (such as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units

carotenoid adjective

Examples of carotenoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, nutrients such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene),14 zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids are important in vision due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions.15 Kale contains a variety of these nutrients. —Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 June 2025

Why Drinking Coffee Might Help You Age Better Coffee contains more than 100 unique bioactive compounds, many of which are antioxidants such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and carotenoids. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 4 June 2025

These foods are high in a range of antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids, which fight free radicals and oxidative stress, protecting the neurons in the brain. —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 3 June 2025

RDAs come in micrograms of retinol activity equivalents because different retinol and provitamin A carotenoids have different bioactivities and result in different levels of retinol in the body. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carotenoid

• albuminoid
• arytenoid
• cannabinoid
• epidermoid
• epithelioid
• meteoroid
• paraboloid
• subarachnoid
• underemployed
• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid

Medical Definition

carotenoid

noun

ca·​rot·​en·​oid

variants also carotinoid

kə-ˈrät-ᵊn-ˌȯid 

: any of various usually yellow to red pigments (as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units

carotenoid adjective