Meanings
- uncountablechemistryPara-aminobenzoic acid, a member of the B-complex family of vitamins that can be synthesized by the human body from folic acid, and used primarily as an active ingredient in sunscreen, but also is necessary for some intestinal bacteria.
In 1976, Willis (63) suggested that the sensitization potential of PABA was minimal.
1996, Nicholas J. Lowe, Sunscreens: Development: Evaluation, and Regulatory Aspects2 more examples
The inhibitory action of PABA on the growth of rickettsiae was first demonstrated experimentally against murine typhus in 1942 by Snyder, Maier, and Anderson.
1968, Donald Greiff, Henry Pinkerton, VIncente Moragues, “Effect of Enzyme Inhibitors and Activators on the Multiplication of Typus Rickettsiae: I. Penicillin, Para-aminobenzoic Acid, Sodium Fluoride, and Vitamins of the B Group.”, in Nicholas Hahon, editor, Selected Papers on the Pathogenic Rickettsiae, page 227Furthermore, these newer compounds are much less likely to permanently stain clothing; the older PABA formulations were famous for the yellow stain they left behind.
1982, Stuart Maddin, Alastair Carruthers, Terence H. Brown, Current Dermatologic Therapy, page 610
- abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Pan Asian Boxing Association.
- abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Philippine Amateur Baseball Association.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells; used to make dyes and drugs and sun blockers
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
PABA. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/PABA
“PABA.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/PABA. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “PABA,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/PABA.
Source: PABA on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.