1. a simple sugar that cannot be broken down into smaller sugar units; a carbohydrate with a single sugar molecule.
Usage: chemistry/biochemistry term; commonly taught in high school and college biology

Examples

• Glucose is a monosaccharide that serves as the primary energy source for cells.
• Fructose and galactose are other common monosaccharides found in fruits and dairy products.
• During digestion, disaccharides are broken down into monosaccharides for absorption.
• The body uses monosaccharides to produce ATP, the molecule that powers cellular functions.
• Monosaccharides have the general formula (CH₂O)n, where n is typically between 3 and 7.
• Ribose is a monosaccharide that forms part of the backbone of RNA molecules.