Antivitamin

/ˌæntiˈvɪtəmɪn/ noun

Definition

A substance that inhibits or counteracts the effects of a vitamin in the body.

Etymology

From 'anti-' plus 'vitamin' (from Latin 'vita,' life, plus 'amin' from amine compounds). The term emerged with nutritional science in the early 20th century.

Kelly Says

Some foods naturally contain antivitamins—like the compound in raw egg whites that blocks biotin absorption—which is why cooking certain foods actually makes their nutrients more available to your body.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.