lauric acid

noun

lau·​ric acid ˈlȯr-ik- How to pronounce lauric acid (audio)
ˈlär-
: a crystalline fatty acid C12H24O2 found especially in coconut oil and used chiefly in making soaps and esters

Examples of lauric acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here, soybean oils and glycerin moisturize skin, while lauric acid helps reduce and treat acne-prone skin. — Deanna Pai, Allure, 13 Dec. 2024 Coconut oil has a very high saturated fat content, most of which is medium-chain triglycerides and lauric acid, and is high in calories. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2025 As a familiar ingredient in Black households, coconut oil has no cholesterol or fiber and a small amount of nutrients, like lauric acid and plant sterols. — Essence, 28 June 2024 This bar delivered thanks to its rich lather and moisturizing texture, a result of the lauric acid (which is a fatty acid that helps fight germs and emulsify the hard bar into a big, fluffy lather) baked in the soap. — Olivia Rose Rushing, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026 Coconut oil contains antioxidant compounds, including lauric acid, myristic acid, vitamin E, phytosterols, and phenolic acids. — Hannah Harper, Health, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin laurus

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lauric acid was in 1863

Rhymes for lauric acid

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Browse Nearby Words

Laurentide
lauric acid
Laurier
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Cite this Entry

“Lauric acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lauric%20acid. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

lauric acid

noun
lau·​ric acid ˌlȯr-ik-, ˌlär- How to pronounce lauric acid (audio)
: a crystalline fatty acid C12H24O2 found especially in coconut oil and used in making soaps, esters, and lauryl alcohol

called also dodecanoic acid

More from Merriam-Webster on lauric acid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lauric acid

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