carotenoid
noun
ca·rot·en·oid
kə-ˈrä-tə-ˌnȯid 
variants
or less commonly carotinoid
: any of various usually yellow to red pigments (such as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units
carotenoid
adjective
Examples of carotenoid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Leaves get their colors from chemicals such as carotenoids, which produce yellow and orange coloring, as well as anthocyanins, which produce red coloring.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Chlorophyll gives leaves a green color, so when these pigments are not visible, carotenoids, which produce yellow orange and brown colors, show through, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
—Elissa Robinson, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Yellow corn contains two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.
—Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Zeaxanthin is a type of xanthophyll – a yellow carotenoid pigment found broadly in nature – already available as a supplement for eye health, and found in dark leafy greens like kale, as well as orange peppers, mango and corn.
—New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2025
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Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Chlorophyll gives leaves a green color, so when these pigments are not visible, carotenoids, which produce yellow orange and brown colors, show through, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
—Elissa Robinson, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Yellow corn contains two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.
—Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Zeaxanthin is a type of xanthophyll – a yellow carotenoid pigment found broadly in nature – already available as a supplement for eye health, and found in dark leafy greens like kale, as well as orange peppers, mango and corn.
—New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carotenoid
Cite this Entry
“Carotenoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carotenoid. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
carotenoid
noun
ca·rot·en·oid
variants
also carotinoid
: any of various usually yellow to red pigments (as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units
carotenoid
adjective
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