ivermectin

noun

iver·​mec·​tin ˌī-vər-ˈmek-tən 

: a drug mixture of two structurally similar semisynthetic lactones that is used in veterinary medicine as an anthelmintic, acaricide, and insecticide and in human medicine to treat onchocerciasis

Examples of ivermectin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The American Medical Association and American Pharmacists Association oppose prescribing ivermectin to treat COVID outside of clinical trials. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026

Merck, the manufacturer of ivermectin, provides the drug for free to each country’s disease control program. —Philip Budge, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026

Mary Talley Bowden, who spent years in an expensive court battle with the Texas Medical Board over her license for prescribing ivermectin, is now allowed to sell ivermectin. —John Wilkerson, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026

The bill says pharmacists and pharmacies would not be subject to professional discipline or civil or criminal penalties for distributing ivermectin. —Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from di- + New Latin avermitilis (specific epithet of Streptomyces avermitilis, bacterium from which it is derived) + English -ect- (of unknown origin) + -in entry 1

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ivermectin

• fibronectin
• amylopectin
• lectin
• pecten
• pectin
• selectin

Medical Definition

ivermectin

noun

iver·​mec·​tin ˌī-vər-ˈmek-tən 

: a drug mixture of two structurally similar semisynthetic macrocyclic lactones that is a derivative of avermectin used in veterinary medicine as an anthelmintic, acaricide, and insecticide and in human medicine to treat onchocerciasis