acetyl-CoA

noun

ace·​tyl-CoA ə-ˈsē-tᵊl-ˌkō-ˈā How to pronounce acetyl-CoA (audio)
: a compound C25H38N7O17P3S formed as an intermediate in metabolism and active as a coenzyme in biological acetylations : acetyl coenzyme a

Examples of acetyl-CoA in a Sentence

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Some of those acetyl groups are turned back into acetyl-CoA and consumed for energy, while others are recycled to activate a different set of genes. — Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acetyl-CoA was in 1951

Rhymes for acetyl-CoA

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Browse Nearby Words

acetylcholinesterase
acetyl-CoA
acetyl coenzyme A
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Cite this Entry

“Acetyl-CoA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acetyl-CoA. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

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