sorbitol

noun

sor·​bi·​tol ˈsȯr-bə-ˌtȯl  -ˌtōl 

: a faintly sweet alcohol C₆H₁₄O₆ that occurs in some fruits, is made synthetically, and is used especially as a humectant and softener and in making ascorbic acid

Examples of sorbitol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sugar Alcohols Sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol are low-calorie sweeteners that are sometimes used as sugar substitutes. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2025

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

The sweeteners aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-k, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol were all found to impact overall cognition. —New Atlas, 4 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

Word History

Etymology

sorb fruit of the service or related trees + -itol

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sorbitol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Medical Definition

sorbitol

noun

sor·​bi·​tol ˈsȯr-bə-ˌtȯl  -ˌtōl 

: a faintly sweet alcohol C₆H₁₄O₆ that occurs especially in fruits of the mountain ash (genus Sorbus), is made synthetically, and is used especially as a humectant, a softener, and a sweetener and in making ascorbic acid