acetic acid

noun

ace·​tic acid ə-ˈsē-tik- 

: a colorless pungent liquid acid C₂H₄O₂ that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics)

Examples of acetic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the case of ethanol, this process makes acetaldehyde—a toxic chemical—and then acetate, or acetic acid, the acid found in vinegar. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

And as people seek more eco-friendly (and cheaper) products, the versatile pantry staple, which contains acetic acid and water, is gaining even more traction. —Stacey Colino, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

The carb is pressed into liquid-form and fermented by yeast into alcohol, which is then fermented into acetic acid. —Matt Fuchs, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024

Vinegars with higher acetic acid levels are more powerful cleaning agents than vinegars with less acetic acid. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

acetic borrowed from French acétique, from Latin acētum "sour wine, vinegar" (noun derivative from *acētus, verbal adjective of acēre "to be sour," going back to Indo-European h₂eḱ-eh₁- "to be sharp") + French -ique -ic entry 1 — more at edge entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

acetic acid

noun

: a colorless strong-smelling liquid acid that gives the sour taste to vinegar and that is used especially in making chemical compounds (as plastics)

Medical Definition

acetic acid

noun

: a colorless pungent liquid acid C₂H₄O₂ that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics) and occasionally in medicine as an astringent and styptic