sorbitol

American  

[sawr-bi-tawl, -tol] / ˈsɔr bɪˌtɔl, -ˌtɒl /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, sweet, water-soluble powder, C 6 H 8 (OH) 6 , occurring in cherries, plums, pears, seaweed, and many berries, obtained by the breakdown of dextrose and used as a sugar substitute for diabetics and in the manufacture of vitamin C, synthetic resins, candy, varnishes, etc.; sorbol.

---

sorbitol British  

/ ˈsɔːbɪˌtɒl /

noun

1. a white water-soluble crystalline alcohol with a sweet taste, found in certain fruits and berries and manufactured by the catalytic hydrogenation of sucrose: used as a sweetener ( E420 ) and in the manufacture of ascorbic acid and synthetic resins. Formula: C 6 H 8 (OH) 6

---

sorbitol Scientific  

/ sôr′bĭ-tôl′,-tōl′ /

1. A white, sweetish, crystalline alcohol found in various berries and fruits or prepared synthetically. It is used as a flavoring agent, a sugar substitute for people with diabetes, and a moisturizer in cosmetics and other products. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₁₄ O ₆ .

---

Etymology

Origin of sorbitol

First recorded in 1890–95; sorb ¹ + -itol

Example Sentences

Trouble begins when the amount of sorbitol exceeds what these microbes can handle.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

Certain Aeromonas bacterial strains are able to break down sorbitol and convert it into a harmless bacterial byproduct.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

Patti explained that sorbitol can also be created naturally in the gut after a meal, even in people without diabetes.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

Because of this close relationship, sorbitol can trigger effects similar to those caused by fructose itself.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

They include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, mannitol, sorbitol, dextrans, and seminal-plasma proteins.

From Preservation of Bull Semen at Sub-Zero Temperatures by Friedman, M. E.