multivitamin

American  

[muhl-ti-vahy-tuh-min] / ˌmʌl tɪˈvaɪ tə mɪn /

adjective

1. containing or consisting of several vitamins.

   multivitamin capsules.

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noun

1. a compound of several vitamins.

Etymology

Origin of multivitamin

First recorded in 1940–45; multi- + vitamin

Explanation

A multivitamin is a pill you take each day that provides you with many different vitamins and minerals. If you want to get your A, your B, your C, your D, and your E all in one horse pill, then take your multivitamin! Many people take multivitamins, including picky kids whose parents worry about their health and pregnant women, who need to take in more nutrients than usual. If you're feeling fatigued, your doctor might suggest taking a daily multivitamin. The word multivitamin makes it clear that this supplement contains more than one type of vitamin: multi- means "many or much," from a Latin root. Vitamin contains the Latin root vita, or "life."

Example Sentences

The authors note that additional studies are needed to assess how a daily multivitamin might affect blood pressure in younger and middle-aged adults, as well as in different populations defined by their nutritional status.

From Science Daily • Dec. 12, 2025

That’s between 20 and 100 times higher than your average multivitamin.

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2025

It currently works with soft drinks, gym supplement and multivitamin gummy brands.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2024

“At night is when I use my Evereden kids multivitamin face wash and Evereden kids multivitamin face cream — it smells floral-y,” Naiya continued.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2024

The only preventative health care I concerned myself with was to take a multivitamin pill during those rare spells when I felt a bit run down and to eat lots of vegetables.

From How and When to Be Your Own Doctor by Solomon, Steve