metabolite

noun

me·​tab·​o·​lite mə-ˈta-bə-ˌlīt 

1

: a product of metabolism

2

: a substance essential to the metabolism of a particular organism or to a particular metabolic process

Examples of metabolite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The singer also had cocaine metabolites, methylecgonine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene and sertraline, an antidepressant medication, in his system, according to the report. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 8 May 2025

Protections For Cannabis Consumers State Question 837 also includes provisions that prohibit the presumption of intoxication based on the use of marijuana or the presence of THC metabolites in a person’s system. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Participants were around age 24 on average, and their levels of some phthalate metabolites were higher than the average determined by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025

Keeping Astronauts Healthy Future studies will be geared toward the detection of pathogenic (or disease-spreading) microbes and signals of human health from environmental metabolites, small molecules that are products of cellular metabolism. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

metabol(ic) or metabol(ism) + -ite entry 1

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for metabolite

• actinolite
• adipocyte
• amphibolite
• anorthosite
• anthophyllite
• aragonite
• carbonatite
• cassiterite
• cristobalite
• crocidolite
• diatomite
• dithionite

Kids Definition

metabolite

noun

me·​tab·​o·​lite mə-ˈtab-ə-ˌlīt 

1

: a substance produced by metabolism

2

: a substance essential to a process of metabolism

Medical Definition

metabolite

noun

me·​tab·​o·​lite -ˌlīt 

1

: a product of metabolism:

a

: a metabolic waste usually more or less toxic to the organism producing it : excretion

b

: a product of one metabolic process that is essential to another such process in the same organism

c

: a metabolic waste of one organism that is markedly toxic to another : antibiotic

2

: a substance essential to the metabolism of a particular organism or to a particular metabolic process