intravenous

adjective

in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs 

: situated, performed, or occurring within or entering by way of a vein

an intravenous injection

also : used in or using intravenous procedures

an intravenous solution

intravenously adverb

Examples of intravenous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over 30 people across four states have been poisoned by bacterial toxins after getting intravenous (IV) drips at wellness clinics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026

But in recent years, Fiji has seen a surge in intravenous drug use as the islands have emerged as a crucial transit point for narcotics being trafficked from the Americas to lucrative markets in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

According to court records, Chalmers did not document the child's second dose of intravenous morphine and claimed the child's pain was not responding to the prescribed medication. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

It is widely known that intravenous drips are used by some boxers as a way of rehydrating effectively, delivering water and/or saline into the body directly. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1849, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing intravenous

• intravenous immune globulin
• intravenous immunoglobulin

Rhymes for intravenous

• salvelinus
• arteriovenous
• cleanness
• freeness
• genus
• minas
• penis
• venous
• venus
• dominus
• fraxinus
• lupinus

Kids Definition

intravenous

adjective

in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs 

: 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 

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