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vitamin C

American  

vitamin C British  

noun

  1. another name for ascorbic acid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

vitamin C Scientific  
  1. A water-soluble vitamin important for healthy skin, teeth, bones, and blood vessels. It is found especially in citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, and green leafy vegetables. A deficiency of vitamin C in the diet causes scurvy. Also called ascorbic acid. Chemical formula: C 6 H 8 O 6 .


Etymology

Origin of vitamin C

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

Their vitamin C body oils smell great, and adding them to my bath makes me feel productive.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Common ingredients include hyaluronic acid to help with hydration, peptides for skin plumping, retinals for fine lines and vitamin C for brightening the under-eye area.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Moustafa recommends getting enough protein and eating vitamin C rich foods.

From Science Daily • Jan. 29, 2026

"We were surprised by the tight correlation between plasma vitamin C levels and those in the skin -- this was much more marked than in any other organ we have investigated," she says.

From Science Daily • Dec. 26, 2025

When I was a kid in high school I cut out vitamin C, I got scurvy.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood