intravenous

adjective

in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs How to pronounce intravenous (audio)
: situated, performed, or occurring within or entering by way of a vein
also : used in or using intravenous procedures
intravenously adverb

Examples of intravenous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Other novel treatments include a 15-minute intravenous iron infusion that can prevent or treat severe anemia in pregnancy—a common cause of postpartum hemorrhage—and administering azithromycin, an antibiotic widely used to treat eye and respiratory infections. Jennifer Fields, Fortune Well, 12 Sep. 2023 She was also accused of poisoning infants by adding insulin to intravenous feeds and interfering with breathing tubes. Sylvia Hui and Brian Melley, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2023 There is a treatment that can be given via intravenous injection at a hospital, but zuranolone is the first pill that can be taken at home. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 10 Aug. 2023 In more severe cases, where oral supplementation is insufficient or not tolerated well, intravenous (IV) therapy may be recommended. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 If your water breaks but labor doesn't start or fails to progress, your provider may give you intravenous (IV) antibiotics to prevent infection or recommend induction with Pitocin. Nicole Harris, Parents, 6 July 2023 One option a healthcare professional may recommend is intravenous (IV) therapy. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2023 While staph is generally treated with antibiotics, the Mayo Clinic points out that antibiotic-resistant strains of staph may require intravenous antibiotics. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2023 Smith was set to die in November 2022, but survived after workers at the Alabama Department of Corrections couldn’t start an intravenous line for the lethal injection drugs before the state’s execution warrant expired at midnight. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 25 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intravenous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intravenous was circa 1849

Dictionary Entries Near intravenous

Cite this Entry

“Intravenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intravenous. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

intravenous

adjective
in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs How to pronounce intravenous (audio)
: being within or entering by way of the veins
intravenous feeding
intravenously adverb

Medical Definition

intravenous

adjective
in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs How to pronounce intravenous (audio)
1
: situated within, performed within, occurring within, or administered by entering a vein
an intravenous feeding
intravenous inflammation
2
: used in intravenous procedures
intravenous needles
an intravenous solution
intravenously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intravenous

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