'sugar-modified' is a compound word formed from 'sugar' and 'modified'. 'Sugar' originates from the Arabic word 'sukkar', which came from the Sanskrit 'śarkarā', meaning 'ground or candied sugar'. 'Modified' comes from the Latin 'modificare', meaning 'to measure or limit'.

'Sugar' was adopted into English from Old French 'sucre', while 'modified' evolved from Middle English 'modifien', which was derived from Old French 'modifier'.

Initially, 'sugar' referred to the sweet crystalline substance, and 'modified' meant 'altered'. Together, 'sugar-modified' now refers to substances altered by sugar addition.