Sugar is a word with a few different meanings. It can refer to a type of carbohydrateA nutrient in foods that the body uses for energy., the common sweet white substance used in food and drinks, money in informalUsed in relaxed conversation rather than official or formal language. speech, or the act of addingPutting extra of something into a mixture or dish. sugar to something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈʃʊɡər/
Easy pronunciation: SUGAR (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: SUG-
Use this for the noun meaning the sweet white substance added to food and drinks.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sugar Meaning
the sweet white substance you add to food and drinks
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
Example: I take sugar in my coffee.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- refined sugar — A close match for the everyday food ingredient sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Sugar
Meaning 2
a carbohydrate, especially one used by living things for energy
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain
Example: The label lists sugars and other carbohydrates.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- carbohydrate — Correct for the broader biological/chemical sense.
- saccharide — A technical synonym for this scientific sense.
Meaning 3
money, in informal speech
Part of speech: noun
Definition: informal terms for money
Example: He makes a lot of sugar from that job.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bread — Common slang for money.
- dough — Common slang for money.
- loot — Informal money/slang usage.
- moolah — Informal money/slang usage.
- lucre — Can mean money, but is more formal or negative than everyday 'sugar'.
Meaning 4
to add sugar to something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: sweeten with sugar
Example: Sugar your tea if you want it sweeter.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- saccharify — Technical verb meaning to make or sweeten with sugar.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sugar Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- refined sugar
carbohydrate / chemical sense
- carbohydrate
- saccharide
money slang
- bread
- dough
- loot
- moolah
- lucre
verb: add sugar
- saccharify
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse sugar as a food ingredient with sugar meaning money.
- Do not use carbohydrate or saccharide for the everyday sweetener sense.
- Do not treat saccharify as a synonym for the noun meanings; it is a verb.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sugar mean in everyday English?
Most often, sugar means the sweet white substance used to sweeten food and drinks.
Can sugar mean money?
Yes. In informal speech, sugar can mean money.
Is carbohydrate the same as sugar?
Not exactly. Sugar can be a kind of carbohydrate, but carbohydrate is the broader scientific term.
What is a simple synonym for sugar?
For the everyday food ingredient sense, refined sugar is the closest synonym in the supplied data.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.