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.

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

Because of this, only two of the three acid groups in the citric acid dissociate.

From Science Daily • Nov. 15, 2024

The exhibition’s brilliance, writes the citric Rosa Lyster, lies in walking the line between a highly Instagrammable celebration of cuteness and an absorbing exploration of its morally ambiguous character.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

Jessie took one prong off the nail of one lemon so as not to waste valuable citric acids, then laid her project out on a tray, and they brought their gifts upstairs.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

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