Etymologically
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vitamin

Etymology and origin of the English word vitamin

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1912
Ultimate origin
Latin (vita)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈvɪt.ə.mɪn/, /ˈvaɪ.tə.mɪn/, US /ˈvaɪ.t̬ə.mɪn/[1]

Etymology

It was coined as vitamine in 1912 by the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk,[2][3] from vīta (“life”) (see vital) and amine,[4][2][5] because these substances were thought to be amines or to contain amino acids.[4][2][6] Merriam-Webster says it was probably first formed in German.[7] The spelling vitamin (1920) dropped the -e once their true nature was known.[4][2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Any of a group of organic compounds needed in small amounts for health: 1912.[8][4]

Semantic evolution

The lettered names (vitamin A, B, C) were introduced in 1920, at the same time as the new spelling.[2][8] A figurative use, something that gives vigour, is from 1921.[8] Compounds such as vitamin pill and vitamin deficiency are recorded from 1958 in the OED.[8]

Timeline

  • 1912 – vitamine.[4][2]
  • 1920 – vitamin; vitamin A, B, C.[4][2]
  • 1921 – figurative use.[8]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Any of a group of organic substances needed in small amounts for normal growth and metabolism, obtained naturally from food.

Word family

  • vitaminic
  • antivitamin
  • megavitamin
  • vitamer
  • B vitamin

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  5. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  8. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Vitamin.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/vitamin. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·