contraindication

noun

con·​tra·​in·​di·​ca·​tion ˌkän-trə-ˌin-də-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce contraindication (audio)
: something (such as a symptom or condition) that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable

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For doctors, an indication is a symptom or circumstance that makes a particular medical treatment desirable. Serious anxiety, for example, is often an indication for prescribing a tranquilizer. A contraindication, then, is a symptom or condition that makes a treatment risky, such as taking certain other medications at the same time. Drugs and conditions that are contraindicated for a medication are listed on its label, and reeled off at high speed in TV ads. Patients can guard against the dangers of drug interaction by reading labels carefully and making sure their doctors know what else they're currently taking.

Examples of contraindication in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The person with the heart attack has no contraindications to thrombolytic therapy (e.g., active bleeding). Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024 In evaluations, the model demonstrated significant improvements over existing methods, achieving up to 49.2% higher prediction accuracy for indications and 35.1% higher accuracy to identify contraindications. Greg Licholai Md, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 The vaccine has more side effects and contraindications than Jynneos. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024 There are no contraindications or side effects to taking glutathione in the form of supplements. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contraindication 

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contraindication was in 1623

Dictionary Entries Near contraindication

Cite this Entry

“Contraindication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contraindication. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

contraindication

noun
con·​tra·​in·​di·​ca·​tion -ˌin-də-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce contraindication (audio)
: something (as a symptom or condition) that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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