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

Suspicion turned to anger when scientific leaders kept contradicting his embrace of hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and convalescent plasma. —David Blumenthal, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026

The bill did contain a measure backed by DeSantis that would have allowed pharmacists to provide ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug often prescribed for animals, over-the-counter to adults without a prescription. —News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026

The organization, formerly the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, is a small group of physicians that, like Cole, promoted ivermectin and other unproven COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 14 Mar. 2026

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

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