corn sugar

noun

Dextrose, especially originating from corn starch.

Meanings

nouncorn sugar (countable and uncountable, plural corn sugars)

plural corn sugars

  1. countableuncountableDextrose, especially originating from corn starch.

    Corn sugar is a key ingredient in home beer making.

    2003, The Complete Joy of Homebrewing
    1 more example

    These added sugars assume various names on food labels: sucrose, invert sugar, corn sugar, corn syrups and solids, high-fructose corn syrup, and honey.

    2010, Understanding Nutrition
  2. countableuncountableA deceptive term for high fructose corn syrup developed by corn refiners meant to imply sugar.

    Last week, the industry group applied to the federal government for permission to use a new name for the ingredient on food labels: "corn sugar."

    2010, “Corn sugar makers hope you'll but the new name”, in NPR
    3 more examples

    The Corn Refiners Association wants to use "corn sugar" as an alternative name for the widely used liquid sweetener currently labeled as high fructose corn syrup on most sodas and packaged foods.

    2011, Thomas Watkins, “'Corn sugar' is false advertising, FDA warns”, in Associated Press

    In April, eight leading sugar companies and two trade associations sued six corn processors and a lobbying group, alleging the corn industry is improperly using the term "corn sugar" in advertisements and elsewhere to describe high-fructose corn syrup, a widely used sweetener used in snack foods, condiments, fruit drinks and other products.

    2011, Ashby Jones, “'Corn Sugar' Goes On Trial As Suit Debates High-Fructose Corn Syrup”, in The Wall Street Journal

    The Food and Drug Administration has cautioned the corn industry over its use of the term "corn sugar" to describe high fructose corn syrup before the proposed new name has received regulatory approval.

    2011, “FDA warns industry over 'corn sugar' label”, in Star Tribune, archived from the original on 29 Sep 2011

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

corn sugar. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corn%20sugar

MLA

“corn sugar.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corn%20sugar. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “corn sugar,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corn%20sugar.

Source: corn sugar on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.