: an antiviral drug C10H13N5O4 that inhibits replication of some retroviruses (such as HIV) and is used to treat AIDS

called also azidothymidine, zidovudine

Examples of AZT in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 1987, the US Food & Drug Administration approved the first antiretroviral medication to prevent or treat HIV/AIDS: AZT, or azidothymidine, and Flournoy eventually started taking it. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 28 July 2024 Members infiltrated the New York Stock Exchange and chained themselves to a balcony to protest the high price of AZT, the only treatment for AIDS at the time. Sally Tamarkin, Them, 28 June 2024 Aztec's shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF). Sacramento Bee, 24 June 2024 At the end of the study, 19 patients who received the placebo had died compared with only 1 death in the group that received AZT. Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024 Under the care of her adoptive parents, Loren and Pat Broadbent, Ms. Broadbent was among the first pediatric patients to receive AZT and other antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Emily Langer, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 The Treatment When the Long Beach baby was born, doctors immediately took blood tests to screen for HIV and administered high doses of AZT, 3TC and nevirapine — the typical treatment for an HIV infection. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2014 The first drug, AZT, found immediate application for health care workers who accidentally had a needlestick injury that infected them with contaminated blood. William A. Haseltine, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2020 Though only moderately effective, AZT paved the way for later generations of life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Patrick Adams, National Geographic, 31 Aug. 2020

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

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of AZT was in 1985

Dictionary Entries Near AZT

Cite this Entry

“AZT.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AZT. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

: a drug used to treat AIDS

Medical Definition

: an antiviral drug C10H13N5O4 that inhibits replication of some retroviruses (as HIV) and is used to treat AIDS

called also azidothymidine, ZDV, zidovudine

see retrovir
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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