Definition

A substance that is a salt or ester of erythorbic acid, commonly used in food to prevent spoilage by acting as an antioxidant.

Example

Erythorbate is often added to processed foods to help maintain freshness.

Conversation

Have you heard about erythorbate? I read it’s used in some food products.

Yeah, I think it’s an antioxidant, right?

Exactly! It helps keep food fresh for longer.

That's pretty cool; I didn’t know that about it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Erythorbate is formed from "erythro-" (from Greek "erythros", meaning red) and "-bate" (from Latin "batus", meaning to cause or make). The term refers to a compound that is derived from erythorbic acid, which is a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and is used as an antioxidant in food preservation.

Memory Tip

Think of 'red' ('erythro-') and 'to make' ('-bate') to remember that erythorbate is a compound related to preserving food.

Visually Confused Words