metformin

noun

met·​for·​min met-ˈfȯr-mən 

: a drug used in the form of its hydrochloride C₄H₁₁N₅·HCl especially to treat type 2 diabetes

Examples of metformin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When a stricter diet and exercise regimen didn’t move the needle, Dr. Shah prescribed metformin. —Mohana Ravindranath, New York Times, 1 May 2025

And both metformin and the GLP-1 and SGLT-2 medications can have gastrointestinal or genitourinary side effects. —The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

These include common pills such as statins for high cholesterol, multiple blood pressure medications and metformin for blood sugar control. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025

The scientists concluded that carrots could be a natural way to complement existing diabetes treatments; so diabetic people could eat carrots while taking prescribed medication, such as insulin or metformin, to further improve their health. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

methyl + -formin (as in phenformin, an earlier antidiabetic drug)

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for metformin

• longshoreman
• longshoremen
• corpsman
• foreman
• foremen
• mormon
• warman

Medical Definition

metformin

noun

met·​for·​min met-ˈfȯr-mən 

: an antidiabetic drug used in the form of its hydrochloride C₄H₁₁N₅·HCl especially to treat type 2 diabetes in patients unresponsive to or intolerant of approved sulfonylurea drugs

Note: Trademarks for preparations containing metformin include Glucophage, Glucovance, Invokamet, Janumet, Jentadueto, and Kombiglyze.