calciferol

noun

cal·​cif·​er·​ol kal-ˈsi-fə-ˌrȯl How to pronounce calciferol (audio)
-ˌrōl
: an alcohol C28H43OH usually prepared by irradiation of ergosterol and used as a dietary supplement in nutrition and medicinally in the control of rickets and related disorders

called also vitamin D2

Examples of calciferol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And there's some evidence to back his recommendation up: The NIH says vitamin D—a fat-soluble vitamin known as calciferol and produced naturally by your body—can help strengthen bones, reduce inflammation, and help with immune function. Amber Brenza, Health.com, 5 Oct. 2020 Backing up a second here: Vitamin D, aka calciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s naturally present in a few foods, like fatty fish, beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks, per the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH). Korin Miller, Health.com, 14 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calciferol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

calciferous + ergosterol

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calciferol was in 1931

Dictionary Entries Near calciferol

Cite this Entry

“Calciferol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calciferol. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

calciferol

noun
cal·​cif·​er·​ol kal-ˈsif-ə-ˌrȯl How to pronounce calciferol (audio)
-ˌrōl
: a vitamin D that is sometimes added to human and animal diets and is used in medicine to treat rickets and related disorders

Medical Definition

calciferol

noun
cal·​cif·​er·​ol kal-ˈsif-ə-ˌrȯl, -ˌrōl How to pronounce calciferol (audio)
: an alcohol C28H43OH usually prepared by irradiation of ergosterol and used as a dietary supplement in nutrition and medicinally especially in the control of rickets

called also ergocalciferol, viosterol, vitamin D, vitamin D2

see drisdol
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