allopurinol

noun

al·​lo·​pu·​ri·​nol ˌa-lō-ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce allopurinol (audio)
-ˌnōl
: a drug C5H4N4O used to promote excretion of uric acid

Examples of allopurinol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What now holds his symptoms at bay is a daily dose of allopurinol, a drug developed in 1963 by the American biochemists Gertrude Elion and George Hitchings (who went on to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allopurinol.' 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

allo- + purine + -ol entry 1

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of allopurinol was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near allopurinol

Cite this Entry

“Allopurinol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allopurinol. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

allopurinol

noun
al·​lo·​pu·​ri·​nol ˌal-ō-ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce allopurinol (audio) -ˌnōl How to pronounce allopurinol (audio)
: a drug C3H4N4O used to promote excretion of uric acid especially in the treatment of gout

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