monosaccharide

Word parts

mono- + saccharide

Noun

Singular monosaccharide

Plural monosaccharides

1. (countable) (biochemistry) A monosaccharide is a simple sugar, such as glucose, fructose or galactose, that cannot be broken up into a simpler form.

Related words

• disaccharide
• polysaccharide

Types of sugar

Monosaccharides (C6H12O6) — glucose • fructose • galactose Disaccharides (C12H22O11) — maltose • sucrose • lactose Polysaccharides — starch • cellulose • glycogen