creatine

American  

[kree-uh-teen, -tin] / ˈkri əˌtin, -tɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an amino acid, C 4 H 9 N 3 O 2 , that is a constituent of the muscles of vertebrates and is phosphorylated to store energy used for muscular contraction.

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creatine British  

/ ˈkriːətɪn, ˈkriːəˌtiːn, -tɪn /

noun

1. an important metabolite involved in many biochemical reactions and present in many types of living cells

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creatine Scientific  

/ krē′ə-tēn′,-tĭn /

1. A nitrogenous organic acid that is found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates, mainly combined with phosphorus, and that supplies energy for muscle contraction. Chemical formula: C ₄ H ₉ N ₃ O ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of creatine

First recorded in 1830–40; creat- (from Greek kreat-, stem of kréas “flesh”) + -ine ² ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does creatine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• creatine vs. creatinine

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

creatine

He wrote that if the scientists' claims - that creatine could improve explosive athletic performance by 1-3% - were true, then "sport may never be the same again".

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

During the 1992 Barcelona Games, investigative reporter Doug Gillon had learned of a 'secret trial' involving British athletes and seen a box of their Ergomax C150 – effervescent creatine tablets.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Thorne sells supplements including creatine, prenatal vitamins, hormone supplements and other products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

On a recent weekday, about two dozen foreign attendees worked on laptops in the Network School’s cafe, which sold health supplements including creatine and collagen peptides.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

So notorious is this that it used to be held that the specific poison of glanders was generated in connection with the excess of creatine, creatinine, and lactic acid resulting from muscular action.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various