acetaminophen

noun

acet·​amin·​o·​phen ə-ˌsē-tə-ˈmi-nə-fən How to pronounce acetaminophen (audio)
ˌa-sə-tə-
: 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 Unlike regulated medical products like acetaminophen, which must have uniform ingredients and doses, the contents of delta-8 products vary from product to product — sometimes even from batch to batch. Jen Christensen, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024 Some are counterfeits made of methamphetamine, while others contain appetite suppressants, acetaminophen or caffeine. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2024 Healthcare professionals -- not lawyers -- are best positioned to advise their patients on whether taking acetaminophen is appropriate based on their unique medical conditions. Nicole Wetsman, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2023 In fact, Norco is made as a combination drug because hydrocodone works better when combined with acetaminophen. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 2 Feb. 2024 Unlike Walgreens brand acetaminophen sold in packaging that resembles Tylenol but has the same active ingredient, the FDA says Rebright and South Moon lack Lumify’s active ingredient, brimonidine tartrate. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024 Hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen was given every six hours over 42 hours. Meg Tirrell, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024 In other words, approximately one out of every 240,000 Americans who regularly use acetaminophen dies unintentionally from acetaminophen toxicity. Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 28 Jan. 2024 Take fever reducers like Advil (ibuprofen), aspirin, and Tylenol (acetaminophen). Leah Groth, Health, 20 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acetaminophen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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.

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acetaminophen was in 1958

Dictionary Entries Near acetaminophen

Cite this Entry

“Acetaminophen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acetaminophen. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acetaminophen

noun
acet·​amin·​o·​phen ə-ˌsēt-ə-ˈmin-ə-fən How to pronounce acetaminophen (audio)
: a crystalline compound used in medicine to relieve pain and fever

Medical Definition

acetaminophen

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

More from Merriam-Webster on acetaminophen

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