acetaminophen

noun
acet·​amin·​o·​phen | \ ə-ˌsē-tə-ˈmi-nə-fən How to pronounce acetaminophen (audio) , ˌa-sə-tə-\

Definition of acetaminophen

: a crystalline compound C8H9NO2 that is a hydroxy derivative of acetanilide and is used in chemical synthesis and in medicine to relieve pain and fever

Examples of acetaminophen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Doctors may recommend acetaminophen or other over-the-counter drugs to relieve fever and muscle aches, along with lots of rest and plenty of water or other fluids. Amanda Macmillan, Health.com, "So There's a Measles Outbreak Near You. How Worried Should You Be?," 5 Sep. 2019 The pain relievers people rely on — aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen — were invented generations ago and aren’t always effective for severe pain. Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, "Vertex sets its sights on taming pain," 11 Aug. 2019 Brummett said that despite research showing a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen is better for treating pain, dentists are still prescribing too many opioids. CBS News, "Wisdom teeth removal is contributing to the opioid crisis, experts warn," 21 Aug. 2019 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 65% of pregnant women in the United States use acetaminophen while pregnant. Amanda Macmillan, Time, "New Study Links Pregnant Women Taking Acetaminophen with Language Delays in Baby Girls," 10 Jan. 2018 Aspirin, just like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, is fine for short-term use for aches and pains, Dr. Yang said. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, "Should you take a daily aspirin or not? What doctors are saying," 23 July 2019 They are also labeled as hydrocodone, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine and other names. David Taylor, Houston Chronicle, "Liberty-Dayton RMC hopes to stem opioid crisis in Liberty County," 25 June 2019 The standard prescription for flu is to stay home and rest, drink plenty of fluids, and keep pain and fever under control with over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen. Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, "How to Know When a Child’s Flu Turns Serious," 7 Feb. 2018 Some doctors will prescribe a small dose of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain, but these medicines should not be overused, our experts agree. Karla Walsh, Woman's Day, "When Do Babies Start Teething?," 26 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acetaminophen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of acetaminophen

1958, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for acetaminophen

acet(yl) + amino + phen(ol)

Note: Shortened from N-acetyl-p-aminophenol. Acetaminophen was introduced as a generic name roughly coincident with the introduction of the trademark preparation Tylenol, which was first marketed as "Children's Tylenol Elixir" in 1955 by McNeil Laboratories. Synthesis of the substance, as acetylamidophenol, was first reported in Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft, 11. Jahrgang (Jan.-Juni, 1878), p. 232-33 (H. N. Morse, "Ueber eine neue Darstellungsmethode der Acetylamidophenole"). Its antipyretic properties were recognized by the German physician Josef von Mering in the 1893 article "Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Antipyretica" (Therapeutische Monatshefte, 7, pp. 577-87)—he also refers to it as acetylamidophenol.

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More Definitions for acetaminophen

acetaminophen

noun

English Language Learners Definition of acetaminophen

US : a medicine that is used to relieve pain and fever

acetaminophen

noun
acet·​amin·​o·​phen | \ ə-ˌsēt-ə-ˈmin-ə-fən How to pronounce acetaminophen (audio) , ˌas-ət- How to pronounce acetaminophen (audio) \

Medical Definition of acetaminophen

: a crystalline compound C8H9NO2 that is a hydroxy derivative of acetanilide and is used in chemical synthesis and in medicine instead of aspirin to relieve pain and fever

called also paracetamol

— see liquiprin, panadol, tylenol