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

One trial is seeking to discover whether the drug metformin, which has been approved for decades to treat diabetes, could help prevent lung cancer in people who are overweight and at high risk of the disease, said Dr. Seema Khan, a professor of surgery at Northwestern and a cancer researcher. —Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

This can include oral medicines, such as metformin, or injectable medicines, such as Ozempic (semaglutide). —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025

Scientists have known for decades that metformin lowers blood sugar. —Mohana Ravindranath, New York Times, 1 May 2025

The metformin group reported a 31.3 point reduction in pain after six months, compared with 18.9 for the placebo group. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Apr. 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.