Meanings
nounmaleic acid (uncountable)
- uncountablechemistryan unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid, cis-butenedioic acid; HOOCCH=CHCOOH, the geometric isomer of fumaric acid; it is found in unripe fruit, and is used industrially in the production of polyester resins
Synonyms: cis-butenedioic acid, pyromalic acid
Synonyms & antonyms
nounan unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid, cis-butenedioic acid; HOOCCH=CHCOOH, the geometric isomer of fumaric acid; it is found in unripe fruit, and is used industrially in the production of polyester resins
Also see
Origin
- Latinmalum“apple”
- Englishmaleic acid
From Latin malum (“apple”). Related to malic acid.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 馬來酸 /马来酸
- 馬來酸 /马来酸 (mǎláisuān)an unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid
Indonesian asam maleat
- asam maleatan unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid
Romanian acid maleic
- acid maleican unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid
Russian малеи́новая кислота́
- малеи́новая кислота́ (maleínovaja kislotá)an unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid
Swedish maleinsyra
- maleinsyraan unsaturated organic dicarboxylic acid
Cite this entry
APA
maleic acid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maleic%20acid
MLA
“maleic acid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maleic%20acid. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “maleic acid,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maleic%20acid.
Source: maleic acid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.