gossypol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “gossypol” mean?
A toxic, polyphenolic compound found naturally in the cotton plant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A toxic, polyphenolic compound found naturally in the cotton plant.
A natural phenol derived from the cotton plant (genus Gossypium) that acts as a male contraceptive and has shown anticancer properties, but is also toxic to non-ruminant animals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is identical and equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral scientific/technical term in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse; used exclusively in specialized scientific contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “gossypol” in a Sentence
Gossypol is found in ~The ~ contains gossypol.~ is treated to reduce gossypol.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gossypol” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- gossypol-related toxicity
- the gossypol content
American English
- gossypol-induced infertility
- gossypol-free cottonseed meal
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used outside of agribusiness reports concerning cottonseed processing and feed safety.
Academic
Common in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and agricultural science journals.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in toxicology, plant chemistry, and animal feed science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gossypol”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gossypol”
- Misspelling as 'gossypole', 'gossipol'.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a gossypol'). It is a mass noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in sufficient quantities it is toxic, causing symptoms like respiratory distress and heart failure. Its use as a male contraceptive has been researched but abandoned due to toxicity and irreversible effects.
It is a natural pesticide for the cotton plant but makes cottonseed—a potential protein source—toxic to monogastric animals like pigs and poultry, requiring costly processing.
While historically researched for its anticancer and contraceptive properties, its serious side effects and risk of permanent infertility have prevented its approval as a pharmaceutical drug in most countries.
Yes. Free gossypol is the toxic, unbound form. Bound gossypol is chemically tied to other compounds (e.g., proteins) during processing, which significantly reduces its toxicity.
A toxic, polyphenolic compound found naturally in the cotton plant.
Gossypol is usually technical/scientific in register.
Gossypol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɒsɪpɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɑːsɪpɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GOSSYPOL: Think of GOSSYpium (the cotton genus) + POL (for phenol/poly-phenol). It's the 'phenol from cotton'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD / A JANUS-FACED COMPOUND: Gossypol is metaphorically seen as both a potential medicine (contraceptive, anticancer) and a poison (toxicant).
Practice
Quiz
In which plant is gossypol naturally found?