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

The intravenous fluids supplied anti-nausea medication and corrected the electrolyte abnormalities that her lab work revealed. — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Consider a cancer medicine delivered through an intravenous infusion. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Tennessee called off Carruthers' execution after a doctor failed to insert a backup intravenous line for about two hours, prompting Lee to grant Carruthers a one-year reprieve. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

She’s filmed being hospitalized and receiving intravenous fluids. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 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