acetaminophen

noun acet·amin·o·phen \ ə-ˌsē-tə-ˈmi-nə-fən , ˌa-sə-tə- \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

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

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Recent Examples of acetaminophen from the Web

Promethazine and some acetaminophen with codeine were targeted by thieves.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Burglary reported at Swan Pharmacy in Tosa," 9 May 2018
During the vaccine trial in Guinea, people who received vaccine were given acetaminophen or other over-the-counter drugs used to lower fever.

— helen branswell, STAT, "Excitement over use of Ebola vaccine in outbreak tempered by real-world challenges," 23 May 2018
About 27 billion acetaminophen doses are sold in the United States each year, and it’s estimated that 110,000 health incidents result from that drug and around 300 annual deaths.

— wes siler, Outside Online, "Is DEET Safe?," 18 May 2018
Both noted a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found that over-the-counter remedies such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are better than opioids at easing the intensity of chronic back pain.

— dennis thompson, chicagotribune.com, "Certain teens more likely to get hooked on opioids," 16 Mar. 2018
This also extends to children; a study of postoperative pain management found that boys were more likely to receive codeine and girls the gentler acetaminophen.

— parul sehgal, New York Times, "Three Views of the Crisis in Women’s Health," 13 Mar. 2018
Codeine – Codeine is one of the weakest opioids, often given when painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen fail to work.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "FDA head calls for mandatory education, internet policing to fight opioid crisis," 4 Apr. 2018
The acute pain patient, the guidelines say, should first be offered treatments like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

— jan hoffman, New York Times, "Medicare Is Cracking Down on Opioids. Doctors Fear Pain Patients Will Suffer.," 27 Mar. 2018
The Food and Drug Administration advises taking no more than 3,000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day.

— Fox News, "Flu patient's mistake with over-the-counter meds leads to transplant," 21 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of 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.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1958

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ACETAMINOPHEN Defined for English Language Learners

acetaminophen

noun

Definition of acetaminophen for English Language Learners

: a medicine that is used to relieve pain and fever

Medical 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