folic acid

noun

fo·​lic acid ˈfō-lik- How to pronounce folic acid (audio)
: a crystalline vitamin C19H19N7O6 of the B complex that is required for normal production of red blood cells, is used especially in the treatment of nutritional anemias, and occurs chiefly in green leafy vegetables, liver, kidneys, dried beans, and mushrooms

called also pteroylglutamic acid

Examples of folic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In response, the government, with UNICEF support, began providing school meals to public school students containing more protein, fruits and vegetables, and rice fortified with essential vitamins and nutrients, along with iron and folic acid supplements. Unicef Usa, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 These supplements contain vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, and iron. Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2025 Gustavo Arellano: California wants to mandate folic acid in tortillas to help babies. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024 Taking folic acid in the first trimester of pregnancy is critical in preventing neural tube defects in the fetus. Omer Awan, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for folic acid 

Word History

Etymology

Latin folium

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of folic acid was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near folic acid

Cite this Entry

“Folic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folic%20acid. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

folic acid

noun
fo·​lic acid ˌfō-lik- How to pronounce folic acid (audio)
: a crystalline vitamin of the B complex used especially in the treatment of anemia resulting from inadequate intake of nutrients

Medical Definition

folic acid

noun
fo·​lic acid ˌfō-lik- How to pronounce folic acid (audio)
: a crystalline vitamin C19H19N7O6 of the B complex that is required for normal production of red blood cells, that is used especially in the treatment of nutritional anemias, and that occurs especially in green leafy vegetables, liver, kidneys, dried beans, and mushrooms

called also folacin, folate, Lactobacillus casei factor, pteroylglutamic acid, vitamin Bc, vitamin M

More from Merriam-Webster on folic acid

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