polysaccharide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “polysaccharide” mean?
A carbohydrate molecule composed of many sugar molecules bonded together in a chain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A carbohydrate molecule composed of many sugar molecules bonded together in a chain.
Any of a large group of complex carbohydrates, such as starch, cellulose, or glycogen, that are polymers of monosaccharides and serve as structural components or energy storage molecules in organisms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None in spelling or primary meaning. Pronunciation differences are minimal, mainly in vowel quality and stress pattern.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency outside scientific contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “polysaccharide” in a Sentence
Polysaccharide + of + [monosaccharide type] (e.g., polysaccharide of glucose)[Substance] + is/contains + a polysaccharideVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “polysaccharide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The polysaccharide composition of the cell wall was analysed.
- They studied the polysaccharide fraction of the sample.
American English
- The polysaccharide structure was determined using NMR.
- Polysaccharide vaccines are important for preventing certain bacterial diseases.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in biotech, food industry, or supplement marketing contexts (e.g., 'Our product contains beneficial algal polysaccharides').
Academic
Common in biochemistry, biology, nutrition, and medical research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear on food labels or in dietary advice as 'complex carbohydrates' or 'fibre'.
Technical
The primary domain. Precisely defines specific chemical structures in laboratory and industrial settings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “polysaccharide”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “polysaccharide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “polysaccharide”
- Mispronouncing as 'poly-sack-a-ride'.
- Confusing with 'polysaccharose' (an archaic synonym).
- Using 'polysaccharides' as an uncountable noun (it is countable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Carbohydrate' is a broad category that includes simple sugars (mono-/disaccharides) and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides). All polysaccharides are carbohydrates, but not all carbohydrates are polysaccharides.
Starch in potatoes and grains, cellulose in vegetables and paper, glycogen in meat and liver, and pectin in jam are all common polysaccharides.
In nutritional contexts, complex polysaccharides like starch and fibre are generally considered beneficial components of a healthy diet, providing sustained energy and aiding digestion, respectively.
No. Humans have enzymes to digest starch and glycogen into glucose. However, we lack enzymes to digest most structural polysaccharides like cellulose (a type of fibre), which passes through our digestive system largely intact.
A carbohydrate molecule composed of many sugar molecules bonded together in a chain.
Polysaccharide is usually technical/scientific in register.
Polysaccharide: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɒl.iˈsæk.ə.raɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɑː.liˈsæk.ə.raɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
POLY = many, SACCHAR = sugar, -IDE = chemical compound type. Think: 'a polymer made of many sugar units.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A polysaccharide is a CHAIN or a BRANCHED TREE made of identical sugar building blocks (like beads on a string).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a polysaccharide?