hydroxyanisole

H4Y4D2R1O1X8Y4A1N1I1S1O1L1E1

noun

Any of three isomers of methoxyphenol, especially 4-methoxyphenol.

Scrabble 31

Meanings

nounhydroxyanisole (plural hydroxyanisoles)

plural hydroxyanisoles

  1. chemistryAny of three isomers of methoxyphenol, especially 4-methoxyphenol.

    The dyes portion of the West Virginia law will be enacted in schools beginning August 1. Then the dyes portion and the section on butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben will take effect statewide on January 1, 2028.

    2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN, archived from the original on 21 Apr 2025
    2 more examples

    Although BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are avoided by some consumers because several studies have suggested they may be toxic or carcinogenic (they are banned in Britain), these antioxidants have also been shown to inhibit the action of cancer-causing chemicals, and BHT has been shown to suppress the growth of harmful viruses.

    1985 May 1, Jane E. Brody, “PERSONAL HEALTH; HOW INNOVATIONS AFFECT SAFETY AND NUTRITION”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 28 Nov 2017

    In high school, I realized I needed more than just sugar to live, so every day I would buy and consume an entire bag of Goldfish (that elusive pizza flavor really is the best). Who needed multiple food groups? Artificial flavors? Count me in. Butylated hydroxyanisole? Yum!

    2016 December 13, Aya Cash, “Aya Cash: The First Time I Ate a Vegetable (I Was 22)”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 08 Nov 2020

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὑδρο- (hudro-)
  2. Frenchhydro-
  3. Frenchhydrogène
  4. Englishhydrogen
  5. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eḱ-der.?
  6. Ancient Greekὀξύς (oxús)
  7. Proto-Indo-European*ǵenh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*ǵénh₁os
  9. Proto-Hellenic*génos
  10. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  11. Frenchoxygène
  12. Englishoxygen
  13. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  14. Englishhydroxyl
  15. Englishhydroxy-
  16. Englishanisole
  17. Englishhydroxyanisole

From hydroxy- + anisole.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

hydroxyanisole. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydroxyanisole

MLA

“hydroxyanisole.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydroxyanisole. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hydroxyanisole,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydroxyanisole.

Source: hydroxyanisole on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.