lauric acid
noun
lau·ric acid ˈlȯr-ik- 
ˈlär-
: a crystalline fatty acid C12H24O2 found especially in coconut oil and used chiefly in making soaps and esters
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web It’s a natural oil processed from a coconut kernel, which contains lauric acid, a fatty acid that promotes and increases antimicrobial activity that helps reduce bacteria and other infections and conditions of the skin. 
Deena Campbell, Allure, 4 Aug. 2021 Interestingly, lauric acid itself has also been purported to have health benefits. Vasanti Malik, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 However, large epidemiological studies have failed to report protective associations between lauric acid and cardiovascular disease. Vasanti Malik, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 However, the coconut oil found on most supermarket shelves contains mostly lauric acid, which is absorbed and metabolized more slowly than MCT. Vasanti Malik, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 The most common fat is lauric acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Yerin Kim, Seventeen, 3 June 2019 Well, actually, this lauric acid only makes up 50 percent of the fats found in coconut oil. Yerin Kim, Seventeen, 3 June 2019 Don’t Use It to Cure Your Zits Coconut oil has gotten major buzz in the last year as miracle zit fixer, thanks to the fact that its naturally high in lauric acid, an anti-microbial and anti-fungal fatty acid. Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, 7 June 2018 Theoretically, the properties in coconut oil should be beneficial to acne—vitamin E and linoleic acid soothe irritated skin, while lauric acid kills bacteria—but coconut oil hasn’t actually been shown to improve acne in any studies. Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, 7 June 2018 See More
Deena Campbell, Allure, 4 Aug. 2021 Interestingly, lauric acid itself has also been purported to have health benefits. Vasanti Malik, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 However, large epidemiological studies have failed to report protective associations between lauric acid and cardiovascular disease. Vasanti Malik, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 However, the coconut oil found on most supermarket shelves contains mostly lauric acid, which is absorbed and metabolized more slowly than MCT. Vasanti Malik, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 The most common fat is lauric acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Yerin Kim, Seventeen, 3 June 2019 Well, actually, this lauric acid only makes up 50 percent of the fats found in coconut oil. Yerin Kim, Seventeen, 3 June 2019 Don’t Use It to Cure Your Zits Coconut oil has gotten major buzz in the last year as miracle zit fixer, thanks to the fact that its naturally high in lauric acid, an anti-microbial and anti-fungal fatty acid. Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, 7 June 2018 Theoretically, the properties in coconut oil should be beneficial to acne—vitamin E and linoleic acid soothe irritated skin, while lauric acid kills bacteria—but coconut oil hasn’t actually been shown to improve acne in any studies. Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, 7 June 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin laurus
First Known Use
1863, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
lauric acid
noun
lau·ric acid ˌlȯr-ik-, ˌlär-
: a crystalline fatty acid C12H24O2 found especially in coconut oil and used in making soaps, esters, and lauryl alcohol
called also dodecanoic acid