lycopene

noun

ly·​co·​pene ˈlī-kə-ˌpēn 

: a carotenoid pigment C₄₀H₅₆ that is the red coloring matter of the tomato

Examples of lycopene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Avocado provides healthy fats, and tomato salsa contains the antioxidant lycopene, which has been found to lower your risk of stroke and cancer. —Ashia Aubourg, Outside, 19 Feb. 2026

Your body absorbs lycopene more easily from cooked tomato products—like sauce, paste, or purée—than from raw tomatoes, because cooking helps free lycopene from the tomato’s structure. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026

Tomatoes Tomatoes contain a plant pigment called lycopene, known for its powerful antioxidant effects. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 10 Feb. 2026

Finally, tomatoes are especially high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that promotes skin health, protects against certain cancers and decreases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary lycop- (from New Latin Lycopersicon, genus of herbs) + -ene

First Known Use

circa 1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lycopene

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Medical Definition

lycopene

noun

ly·​co·​pene ˈlī-kə-ˌpēn 

: a red pigment C₄₀H₅₆ isomeric with carotene that occurs in many ripe fruits (as the tomato)