# melanin

/ˈmɛɫənən/ (US) · /mˈɛlɐnˌɪn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/melanin
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a natural substance in your skin, hair, and eyes that gives them their color. It also helps protect your skin from the sun.

For teachers: a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes that determines the color of skin, hair, and eyes. It serves a protective role by absorbing ultraviolet radiation.

## Examples

- Melanin gives your skin its natural color.
- People with more melanin in their skin have a higher natural resistance to sunburn.
- The synthesis of melanin is a complex biochemical process involving the conversion of tyrosine into melanin by the enzyme tyrosinase, which is essential for photoprotection.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.