hexamethylenetetramine

noun

hexa·meth·y·lene·tet·ra·mine ˌhek-sə-ˈme-thə-ˌlēn-ˈte-trə-ˌmēn

: a crystalline compound C₆H₁₂N₄ used especially as an accelerator in vulcanizing rubber and as a urinary antiseptic compare methenamine

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary hexa- + methylene + tetra- + amine

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of hexamethylenetetramine was in 1888

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

hexamethylenediamine

hexamethylenetetramine

hexametrist

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hexamethylenetetramine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hexamethylenetetramine. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

hexamethylenetetramine

noun

hexa·meth·y·lene·tet·ra·mine -ˈmeth-ə-ˌlēn-ˈte-trə-ˌmēn

: methenamine

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

hexamethylenetetramine

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes