cannabidiol

noun

can·​na·​bi·​di·​ol ˌka-nə-bə-ˈdī-ˌȯl 

kə-ˈna-bə-, 

-ˌōl 

plural cannabidiols

: a crystalline, nonintoxicating cannabinoid C₂₁H₃₀O₂ found in cannabis and hemp that is sometimes used medicinally

Note: After THC, cannabidiol is the second most prevalent cannabinoid in cannabis.

A 1986 study by Consroe and his colleagues … showed that cannabidiol, a nonpsychoactive component of marijuana, calmed the abnormal movements of five people suffering from dystonia, a rare condition characterized by muscle spasms that contort the body.

—Kathleen Fackelmann

called also CBD

compare cannabinol

Examples of cannabidiol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Medical marijuana includes products with cannabidiol, or CBD, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the part of the plant that produces euphoria. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026

The research, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, found that cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) significantly reduced liver fat and improved metabolic health in experimental models. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026

Many people drink alcohol or take cannabidiol (CBD) supplements for stress relief or relaxation. —Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2026

Cannabis produces a complex suite of bioactive compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), but how these molecules evolved has long been a mystery. —New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cannabidiol

noun

can·​na·​bi·​di·​ol ˌkan-ə-bə-ˈdī-ˌȯl  kə-ˈnab-ə- 

-ˌōl

: a crystalline, nonintoxicating cannabinoid C₂₁H₂₈(OH)₂ found in cannabis and hemp that is sometimes used medicinally

Note: After THC, cannabidiol is the second most prevalent cannabinoid in cannabis.

A 1986 study by Consroe and his colleagues … showed that cannabidiol, a nonpsychoactive component of marijuana, calmed the abnormal movements of five people suffering from dystonia, a rare condition characterized by muscle spasms that contort the body.

—Kathleen Fackelmann

called also CBD

compare cannabinol