pectin

noun

pec·​tin ˈpek-tən 

: any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

also : a commercial product rich in pectins

Examples of pectin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Strawberry energy chew Ingredient list: Organic tapioca syrup, organic cane sugar, water, pectin, potassium citrate, citric acid, natural flavors, Vit B3/B6/B12, fruit blends of apple, blueberry, pomegranate Ultra-processed? —Matthew Kadey, Outside Online, 8 Feb. 2025

In the dairy section, Nestle compared a whole-fat yogurt (milk, bacterial cultures) with a low-fat version (milk, bacterial cultures, cornstarch, and pectin, among other things), whose emulsifiers and thickeners improved creaminess and mouthfeel. —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Soluble fiber supplements, including pectin and psyllium, help bind stools and slow their transit time through the intestine. —Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025

Apples contain pectin, a type of soluble fiber that helps to improve the transit time of food in your digestive system. —Anna Meyer, Cpt, Health, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French pectine, from pectique

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pectin

• lectin
• pecten
• amylopectin
• fibronectin
• ivermectin
• selectin

Kids Definition

pectin

noun

pec·​tin ˈpek-tən 

: any of various substances in plant tissues that dissolve in water and produce a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

also : a commercial product rich in pectins

Medical Definition

pectin

noun

pec·​tin ˈpek-tən 

1

: any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

2

: a commercial product rich in pectins and used chiefly in making jelly and other foods, in pharmaceutical products especially for the control of diarrhea, and in cosmetics