saccharin

[sak-er-in]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble powder, C 7 H 5 NO 3 S, produced synthetically, which in dilute solution is 500 times as sweet as sugar: its soluble sodium salt is used as a noncaloric sugar substitute in the manufacture of syrups, foods, and beverages.

saccharin

/ ˈsækərɪn /

noun

1. a very sweet white crystalline slightly soluble powder used as a nonfattening sweetener. Formula: C 7 H 5 NO 3 S

saccharin

1. A white, crystalline powder used as a calorie-free sweetener. It tastes about 500 times sweeter than sugar. Saccharin is made from a compound of toluene, which is derived from petroleum. Chemical formula: C ₇ H ₅ NO ₃ S.

Other Word Forms

• nonsaccharin adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of saccharin¹

First recorded in 1875–80; sacchar- + -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of saccharin¹

C19: from _saccharo- + _-in

Example Sentences

Ninety-four percent of the rats preferred the saccharin.

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The safety of sugar replacements, including the decades-old science dispute over the use of saccharin in the diet drink Tab, has been heavily scrutinized.

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Aspartame, for example, is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and costs more than saccharin, roughly the same as sucralose and less than stevia, a sweetener industry source said.

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The frequency of cancer in nonsugar sweetener consumers was very low in general, though saccharin, an FDA-approved sweetener found in many food products, was associated with a bladder cancer.

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Some examples of the sweeteners include aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and stevia.

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Related Words

• carbohydrate