diethylstilbestrol

di·eth·yl·stil·bes·trol | \ (ˌ)dī-ˈe-thəl-stil-ˈbe-ˌstrȯl

, -ˌtrōl \

Definition of diethylstilbestrol

: a synthetic estrogen drug C₁₈H₂₀O₂ used formerly to prevent miscarriage or premature delivery in humans and to promote growth in livestock

— called also DES, stilbestrol

Examples of diethylstilbestrol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES): The drug was given to some pregnant women between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Answers to your questions about breast cancer screening: Is a 3D mammogram better?," 4 Nov. 2019 The drug, a synthetic estrogen known as diethylstilbestrol (DES), was designed to prevent pregnancy complications like miscarriage and preterm delivery. — Fox News, "Banned pregnancy drug tied to ADHD generations later," 23 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diethylstilbestrol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Diethylstilbestrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diethylstilbestrol. Accessed 21 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for diethylstilbestrol

diethylstilbestrol

noun

di·eth·yl·stil·bes·trol | \ -stil-ˈbes-ˌtrȯl

, -ˌtrōl

variants: or chiefly British diethylstilboestrol \ -ˈbēs-

How to pronounce diethylstilboestrol (audio)

Medical Definition of diethylstilbestrol

: a synthetic estrogen drug C₁₈H₂₀O₂ used formerly to prevent miscarriage or premature delivery in humans and to promote growth in livestock

— called also DES, stilbestrol

Note: The medical use of diethystilbestrol was discontinued in the U.S. during the early 1970s due to its association with serious side effects (such as reproductive tract abnormalities and increased rates of infertility) in offspring exposed to the drug while developing in the uterus. Additional side effects of exposure include increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix and pregnancy complications in female offspring and prostate and testicular cancer in male offspring. Diethylstilbestrol is no longer commercially available in the U.S. and its use is currently limited to specially compounded formulations for veterinary care.