Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

chromatin

American  
[kroh-muh-tin] / ˈkroʊ mə tɪn /

noun

Cell Biology.
  1. the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus, consisting of DNA, RNA, and various proteins, that forms chromosomes during cell division.


chromatin British  
/ ˈkrəʊmətɪn /

noun

  1. cytology the part of the nucleus that consists of DNA and proteins, forms the chromosomes, and stains with basic dyes See also euchromatin heterochromatin

"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

chromatin Scientific  
/ krōmə-tĭn /
  1. The substance distributed in the nucleus of a cell that condenses to form chromosomes during cell division. It consists mainly of DNA and proteins called histones.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of chromatin

First recorded in 1880–85; chromat- + -in 2

Compare meaning

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

Vocabulary lists containing chromatin

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:

When MOF is removed, BRD2 can no longer stay attached to chromatin, while other BET proteins remain largely unaffected.

From Science Daily Apr. 9, 2026

The enzyme MOF places chemical tags called histone acetylations onto chromatin.

From Science Daily Apr. 9, 2026

Many of these enzymes are typically known for producing energy in mitochondria, yet researchers discovered them sitting on chromatin inside the cell nucleus.

From Science Daily Mar. 9, 2026

Their experiments showed that these enzymes gather near chromatin when DNA damage occurs.

From Science Daily Mar. 9, 2026

The allegiances shifted: the handmaiden of chromatin was suddenly its queen.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

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

Start training