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.

See Examples For:

citric

The citric acid that adds tang to sugary drinks and the silica that gives toothpaste its grit are made with it, too.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

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

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

Even the citric acid that keeps the nugget “fresh” is made from corn.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

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