peptide

American  

[pep-tahyd] / ˈpɛp taɪd /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a compound containing two or more amino acids in which the carboxyl group of one acid is linked to the amino group of the other.

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peptide British  

/ ˈpɛptaɪd /

noun

1. any of a group of compounds consisting of two or more amino acids linked by chemical bonding between their respective carboxyl and amino groups See also peptide bond polypeptide

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peptide Scientific  

/ pĕp′tīd′ /

1. A chemical compound that is composed of a chain of two or more amino acids and is usually smaller than a protein. The amino acids can be alike or different. Many hormones and antibiotics are peptides.

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Etymology

Origin of peptide

1905–10; pept(ic) + -ide ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does peptide compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• peptide vs. polypeptide

Example Sentences

“Whether people are tracking food intake, monitoring sleep or asking about peptide therapies, they’re expressing the same underlying shift: from reactive to proactive,” Jeffrey Egler, Noom’s chief medical officer, said in an email last week.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Hims isn’t the only compounding pharmacy getting into the peptide business.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Because each prohormone can be split in many different ways, identifying useful peptide hormones using traditional lab methods is extremely challenging.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

The manufacturing process can also introduce impurities — like bacteria or heavy metals — into peptide drugs.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Pauling had cracked the a-helix by ruthlessly following up his knowledge that the peptide bond was flat.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson