Meanings
- uncountablechemistryThe compound with the formula CH₃CH₂COOH, a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with a pungent odor.
Synonyms: propanoic acid, E280 when used as a preservative
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe compound with the formula CH₃CH₂COOH, a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with a pungent odor.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna liquid fatty acid found in milk and sweat and in fuel distillates
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekπρῶτος
- Frenchacide propionique
- Englishpropionic acid
From French acide propionique, coined by chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos) ("first") and πίων (píōn) ("fat"), because it was the smallest carboxylic acid that exhibited the properties of the other fatty acids, such as producing an oily layer when salted out of water and having a soapy potassium salt.
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 丙酸
- 丙酸 (bǐngsuān)a kind of fatty acid
Finnish propionihappo
- propionihappoa kind of fatty acid
Swedish propionsyra
- propionsyraa kind of fatty acid
Cite this entry
propionic acid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propionic%20acid
“propionic acid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propionic%20acid. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “propionic acid,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propionic%20acid.
Source: propionic acid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.