Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

lipopolysaccharide

American  
[lahyp-oh-pol-ee-sak-uh-rahyd, -rid, lahy-poh-] / ˈlaɪp oʊˌpɒl iˈsæk əˌraɪd, -rɪd, ˈlaɪ poʊ- /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. any of a class of polysaccharides to which lipids are attached.


Etymology

Origin of lipopolysaccharide

First recorded in 1950–55; lipo- 1 + polysaccharide

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:

To simulate inflammation, the researchers exposed murine macrophages to lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial component often used in laboratory experiments.

From Science Daily Apr. 9, 2026

The drug kicks into gear only in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial toxin.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 3, 2024

This toxin was later recognized to be lipopolysaccharide, or LPS, a component of the outer membrane of certain types of bacteria.

From Salon Jan. 1, 2023

Banks, W. A. & Robinson, S. M. Minimal penetration of lipopolysaccharide across the murine blood-brain barrier.

From Nature Apr. 10, 2018

They display lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in their walls, and these macromolecules are read by our tissues as the very worst of bad news.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training