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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

While xylitol toxicity is one of the more common emergencies we veterinarians see these days, it's still largely unknown among pet owners.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2022

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 don’t know exactly how the xylitol may prevent preterm birth, but they believe it has “prebiotic” properties, meaning it stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria in the mouth.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2022

Be sure to keep xylitol well away from pets.

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