xylitol

American

[zahy-li-tawl, -tol] / ˈzaɪ lɪˌtɔl, -ˌtɒl /

noun

Biochemistry.

a naturally occurring pentose sugar alcohol, C 5 H 12 O 5 , used as a sugar substitute.

xylitol British

/ ˈzaɪlɪˌtɒl /

noun

chem an artificial sweetener produced from xylose and used esp in chewing gum. Formula: CH 2 HOH(CHOH) 3 CH 2 OH

"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

xylitol Scientific

/ zī′lĭ-tôl′,-tōl′ /

A sweet white crystalline alcohol derived from xylose and used as a sugar substitute. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₁₂ O ₅ .

Etymology

Origin of xylitol

< German Xylit (1891), equivalent to Xyl ( ose ) xylose + -it -ite ¹; see -itol

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.

The study showed that CANECPI-5 works best when combined with fluoride and xylitol.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

A recent study found that chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol significantly decreased the rate of preterm births in a large group of women in a rural part of Malawi.

From Washington Post • Jul. 29, 2022

Researchers tested whether chewing gum made with the sweetener xylitol could help.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2022

OK, and for body, too — so don't get too crazy and omit or swap the sweetener completely for a sugar-free alternative, like xylitol or stevia.

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2021

Like most sugar substitutes, xylitol can have a laxative effect.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 14, 2021

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