aspartame

[ uh-spahr-teym, a-spahr-, as-per-teym ]

noun

1. a white, crystalline, odorless, slightly water-soluble noncarbohydrate powder, C 14 H 18 N 2 O 5 , synthesized from amino acids, that is 150–200 times as sweet as sugar: used as a low-calorie sugar substitute in soft drinks, table sweeteners, and other food products.

aspartame

/ əˈspɑːˌteɪm /

noun

1. an artificial sweetener produced from aspartic acid. Formula: C 14 H 18 N 2 O 5

aspartame

/ ăs′pər-tām′,ə-spär′- /

1. An artificial sweetener formed from aspartic acid. Chemical formula: C 14 H 18 N 2 O 5 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspartame¹

1970–75; aspart(yl phenyl)a(linine) m(ethyl) e(ster) , the powder's chemical name

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspartame¹

C20: from aspart ( ic acid ) + ( phenyl ) a ( lanine ) m ( ethyl ) e ( ster )

Example Sentences

The most well known are probably saccharin, aspartame and sucralose – better known as Splenda.

From No Straight News

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet) and saccharine are more widely used.

From The Daily Beast