acetaminophen

noun

acet·amin·o·phen | \ ə-ˌsē-tə-ˈmi-nə-fən

, 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

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 The drug is commonly prescribed in combination with acetaminophen and caffeine to treat headaches and other pain. — Robert Moore, Washington Post, "Inconclusive autopsy deepens mystery of Border Patrol agent’s death," 6 Feb. 2018 Doctors aren’t entirely sure why acetaminophen works to alleviate migraines. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Neurologists Share Exactly How They Deal With Their Migraines," 1 Aug. 2018 The group has established workarounds, such as giving tablet forms of the opioids to patients who can swallow, using local anesthetics like nerve blocks and substituting opiates with acetaminophen, ketamine and muscle relaxants. — Pauline Bartolone, CNN, "Opioid shortages leave US hospitals scrambling," 19 Mar. 2018 The group has established workarounds, such as giving tablet forms of the opioids to patients who can swallow, using local anesthetics like nerve blocks and substituting opiates with acetaminophen, ketamine and muscle relaxants. — Pauline Bartolone, CNN, "Opioid shortages leave US hospitals scrambling," 19 Mar. 2018 The group has established workarounds, such as giving tablet forms of the opioids to patients who can swallow, using local anesthetics like nerve blocks and substituting opiates with acetaminophen, ketamine and muscle relaxants. — Pauline Bartolone, latimes.com, "The other opioid crisis: hospitals are running short of powerful painkillers," 16 Mar. 2018 Pain relievers include over-the-counter options like aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, along with drugs that are specifically made to treat migraines. — Korin Miller, SELF, "How to Tell if Vestibular Migraines Are Why You Get Dizzy So Often," 12 July 2018

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.

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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The first known use of acetaminophen was in 1958

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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

See the full definition for acetaminophen in the English Language Learners Dictionary

acetaminophen

noun

acet·amin·o·phen | \ ə-ˌsēt-ə-ˈmin-ə-fən

, ˌas-ət-

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