Meanings
plural xylitols
- countableuncountablechemistryA pentahydric alcohol, C₅H₁₂O₅, penta-hydroxy pentane; derived from xylose; used as a sweetener.
A note of caution to readers with pets: Xylitol is toxic to dogs and can have potentially life-threatening effects. As owners of two doggos ourselves, we encourage anyone with a dog to use extreme caution when bringing xylitol into your home.
2019, Matt Dorsey, Jenny Dorsey, Healthy Cocktails, Simon and Schuster, →ISBNSynonyms: E967 when used as a sweetener
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA pentahydric alcohol, C₅H₁₂O₅, penta-hydroxy pentane; derived from xylose; used as a sweetener.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*kes-
- Proto-Indo-European*ksewlo-der.?
- Ancient Greekξύλον (xúlon)
- Englishxylitol
From Ancient Greek ξύλον (xúlon, “wood”) + English -itol (“anhydric alcohol”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 木糖醇
- 木糖醇 (mùtángchún)an alcohol
Finnish ksylitoli
- ksylitolian alcohol
German Xylitol
- Xylitolan alcohol
Greek ξυλιτόλη
- ξυλιτόλη (xylitóli)an alcohol
Hungarian xilitol, xilit
- xilitolan alcohol
- xilitan alcohol
- nyírfacukoran alcohol
Japanese キシリトール
- キシリトール (kishiritōru)an alcohol
Korean 자일리톨, 크실리톨
- 자일리톨 (jaillitol)an alcohol
- 크실리톨 (keusillitol)an alcohol
Polish ksylitol
- ksylitolan alcohol
Portuguese xilitol
- xilitolan alcohol
Russian ксилит
- ксилит (ksilit)an alcohol
Spanish xilitol
- xilitolan alcohol
Swedish xylitol
- xylitolan alcohol
Turkish ksilitol
- ksilitolan alcohol
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
xylitol. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/xylitol
“xylitol.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/xylitol. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “xylitol,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/xylitol.
Source: xylitol on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.