enantiomer

noun

en·​an·​tio·​mer i-ˈnan-tē-ə-mər 

: either of a pair of chemical compounds whose molecular structures have a nonsuperimposable mirror-image relationship to each other compare diastereomer

enantiomeric

i-ˌnan-tē-ə-ˈmer-ik 

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

And then there’s the case of esketamine, which is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, a similar (in molecular structure) but more potent agent than ketamine. —Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 5 July 2021

Ketamine is a combination of two enantiomers, or mirror image molecules. —Megan Thielking, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2019

Strangely enough, meth's enantiomer is the active ingredient in Vick's Vapor Inhaler. —William Herkewitz, Popular Mechanics, 19 Aug. 2013

Word History

Etymology

Greek enantios + English -mer

First Known Use

circa 1929, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

enantiomer

noun

en·​an·​tio·​mer in-ˈant-ē-ə-mər 

: either of a pair of chemical compounds whose molecular structures have a mirror-image relationship to each other

called also optical antipode

enantiomeric

-ˌant-ē-ə-ˈmer-ik 

adjective

enantiomerically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb