xylitol

American  

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

noun

Biochemistry.

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

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xylitol British  

/ ˈzaɪlɪˌtɒl /

noun

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

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xylitol Scientific  

/ zī′lĭ-tôl′,-tōl′ /

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

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Etymology

Origin of xylitol

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

Example Sentences

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

There was a lower rate of preterm births before 37 weeks in the group that chewed xylitol gum: 13% compared with 17% in the control group.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2022