flavonoid
noun
fla·vo·noid
ˈflā-və-ˌnȯid
: any of a large group of typically biologically active water-soluble plant compounds (such as the anthocyanins and flavones) that include pigments ranging in color from yellow to red to blue and occur especially in fruits, vegetables, and herbs (such as grapes, citrus fruits, peppers, and dill)
Blueberries are packed with a flavonoid known as anthocyanin, an antioxidant proven to help boost the immune system …—Margaret Darby
Flavonoids are effective scavengers of free radicals in the test tube (in vitro). However, even with very high flavonoid intakes, plasma and intracellular flavonoid concentrations in humans are likely to be 100 to 1000 times lower than concentrations of other antioxidants …—Jane Higdon
The rich palette of dyes in butterflies' wings are all derived from chemicals called flavonoids, which the insects cannot make themselves and must sequester from their food plants.—Nicholas Wade
see bioflavonoid
Cite this Entry
“Flavonoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flavonoid. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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