xylitol

noun

xy·​li·​tol ˈzī-lə-ˌtȯl How to pronounce xylitol (audio) -ˌtōl How to pronounce xylitol (audio)
: a crystalline alcohol C5H12O5 that is a derivative of xylose, is obtained especially from birch bark, and is used as a sweetener

Examples of xylitol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 Sugar alcohols, such as xylitol and erythritol, also have the potential to raise blood sugar, which can be an issue for those with diabetes. Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 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 Erythritol, xylitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols, a carbohydrate found naturally in tiny quantities in foods such as cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, plums, raspberries and strawberries. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for xylitol

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of xylitol was in 1891

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Cite this Entry

“Xylitol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xylitol. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

xylitol

noun
xy·​li·​tol ˈzī-lə-ˌtȯl How to pronounce xylitol (audio) -ˌtōl How to pronounce xylitol (audio)
: a crystalline alcohol C5H12O5 that is a derivative of xylose, is obtained especially from birch bark, and is used as a sweetener

More from Merriam-Webster on xylitol

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