polysorbate

American

[pol-ee-sawr-beyt, -bit] / ˌpɒl iˈsɔr beɪt, -bɪt /

noun

any of a class of emulsifying and dispersing agents used in various foods and pharmaceutical preparations.

polysorbate Scientific

/ pŏl′ē-sôr′bāt′ /

Any of a class of emulsifiers used in food preparation and in some pharmaceuticals. Polysorbates are fatty acid esters with short polyethylene chains branching out from a central ring.

Etymology

Origin of polysorbate

First recorded in 1950–55; poly- + sorbate

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.

A common emulsifier, polysorbate 80, used in vaccines to facilitate mixing, had interfered with the ultraviolet-light meter that measures the quantity of viral material, according to the documents.

From Reuters • Dec. 24, 2020

Some pediatricians have questioned the safety of kiddie cosmetics, which are loaded with such ominous-sounding chemicals as polysorbate 80, dimethicone and D & C Red No. 27.

From Time Magazine Archive

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