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

Some companies also promote their products for general wellness, akin to a multivitamin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Across the full study population, the investigators did not find differences in self-reported new-onset hypertension between the multivitamin and placebo groups.

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

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