acid-intolerant
|a-cid-in-tol-er-ant|
🇺🇸
/ˈæsɪd ɪnˈtɑːlərənt/
🇬🇧
/ˈæsɪd ɪnˈtɒlərənt/
cannot bear acid
Etymology
'acid-intolerant' is a Modern English compound formed from 'acid' + 'intolerant'. 'acid' comes from Latin 'acidus' meaning 'sour', and 'intolerant' comes from Latin 'intolerans' (from 'in-' + 'tolerare') meaning 'not able to bear'.
'acid' passed from Latin 'acidus' into Old French as 'acide' and then into Middle English as 'acid'; 'intolerant' comes from Latin 'intolerans' via Old French/Medieval Latin into Modern English. The compound 'acid-intolerant' is a descriptive Modern English formation combining the two elements.
Individually, 'acid' originally meant 'sour' and 'intolerant' meant 'not able to bear'; combined in Modern English they form the current meaning 'not able to tolerate acid' applied across scientific and medical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not resistant to acids; damaged or destroyed by exposure to acid (used in chemistry, materials science, and biology).
Many metals are acid-intolerant and corrode quickly when exposed to strong acids.
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Adjective 2
unable to tolerate acidic foods or environments; used in medical/dietary contexts to describe people or organisms that react negatively to acid.
Some people are acid-intolerant and experience heartburn or stomach pain after eating citrus fruits.
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Last updated: 2025/08/22 00:09