vitamin A

noun

: any of several fat-soluble vitamins (such as retinol) that are found especially in green or orange vegetables (such as carrots or spinach) and in animal products (such as egg yolk, butter, or liver) and whose deficiency in the animal body causes epithelial tissues to become keratinous (as in the eye with resulting visual defects)

Examples of vitamin A in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Brand to offer gluten-free, air-fryer options In addition to high protein, the products will contain vitamin A, potassium, calcium and iron. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 May 2024 Along with protein, this product provides calcium, vitamin A, potassium, and other nutrients. —Perri Ormont Blumberg, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vitamin A 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vitamin A.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vitamin A was circa 1920

Dictionary Entries Near vitamin A

vitamin

vitamin A

vitamin B

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Vitamin A.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitamin%20A. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

vitamin A

noun
: any of several vitamins or a mixture of them that are found especially in green and orange vegetables (as carrots or spinach) and animal products (as egg yolk, butter, or liver) and are needed especially for good vision

Medical Definition

vitamin A

noun
: any of several fat-soluble vitamins or a mixture of two or more of them whose lack in the animal body causes keratinization of epithelial tissues (as in the eye with resulting night blindness and xerophthalmia): as
a
: a pale yellow crystalline highly unsaturated alicyclic alcohol C20H29OH that is found in animal products (as egg yolk, milk, and butter) and especially in marine fish-liver oils (as of cod, halibut, and shark) and that is used in various forms in medicine and nutrition

called also retinol, vitamin A1

b
: a yellow viscous liquid alicyclic alcohol C20H27OH that contains one more double bond in a molecule than vitamin A1 and is less active biologically in mammals and that occurs especially in the liver oil of freshwater fish

called also vitamin A2

More from Merriam-Webster on vitamin A

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vitamin A

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