Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

acetic

American  
[uh-see-tik, uh-set-ik] / əˈsi tɪk, əˈsɛt ɪk /

adjective

  1. pertaining to, derived from, or producing vinegar or acetic acid.


acetic British  
/ əˈsiːtɪk, əˈsɛt- /

adjective

  1. of, containing, producing, or derived from acetic acid or vinegar

"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

acetic Scientific  
/ ə-sē′tĭk /
  1. Relating to or containing acetic acid or vinegar.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of acetic

First recorded in 1800–10; acet- + -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:

One plant makes acetic acid, which is used in vinegar, paint and glue.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

They include companies like Chemours and Tronox, which make titanium dioxide, a pigment used in paint and wallpaper, and Celanese, which produces acetic acid, a key ingredient in many industrial products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026

Sixty jobs will go at the Ineos Acetyls site near Hull, which makes products including acetic acid used in manufacturing.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2025

There is some evidence that apple cider vinegar – and other sources of acetic acid – improves insulin sensitivity so it's possible that there are some benefits for those with this condition.

From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2024

Instead of using something that might harm us, I mix a concoction of a surfactant, NaCl, and a chemical derivative of acetic acid—aka Dawn dish soap, salt, and vinegar.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training