citric

American

[si-trik] / ˈsɪ trɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

of or derived from citric acid.

citric British

/ ˈsɪtrɪk /

adjective

of or derived from citrus fruits or citric acid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of citric

First recorded in 1790–1800; citr(us) + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

citric

The citric acid that adds tang to sugary drinks and the silica that gives toothpaste its grit are made with it, too.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

Workers in hazmat suits carefully weigh out magnesium citrate - a compound made by mixing the mineral with citric acid - into shiny, steel containers.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2025

They’re also coated in a ton of citric acid.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2025

The trick to their method: Instead of leeching with an excess of citric acid like conventional methods, they use a relatively small amount.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2024

Even the citric acid that keeps the nugget “fresh” is made from corn.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023