nonsteroidal

adjective

non·​ste·​roi·​dal ˌnän-stə-ˈrȯi-dᵊl 

variants or less commonly nonsteroid

ˌnän-ˈster-ˌȯid, 

-ˈstir- 

: of, relating to, or being a compound and especially a drug that is not a steroid

a nonsteroidal painkiller

nonsteroid noun

Examples of nonsteroidal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For some, that may mean nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, for pain, or tranexamic acid, a nonhormonal medication to treat heavy bleeding. —L'oreal Thompson Payton, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026

Its effect was comparable to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).2 Curcumin can be used in addition to traditional treatments due to its few side effects. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2026

Ibuprofen such as Advil and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, should only be used in the second trimester, according to ACOG guidance. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025

These may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to address pain and inflammation, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow the progression, and biologics that affect your immune system. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonsteroidal

• alkaloidal
• ellipsoidal
• hemorrhoidal
• sinusoidal
• trapezoidal
• amygdaloidal
• choroidal
• colloidal
• conchoidal
• crinoidal
• cuboidal
• discoidal

Medical Definition

nonsteroidal

adjective

non·​ste·​roi·​dal ˌnän-stə-ˈrȯid-ᵊl 

variants also nonsteroid

(ˈ)nän-ˈsti(ə)r-ˌȯid also -ˈste(ə)r-

: of, relating to, or being a compound and especially a drug that is not a steroid

a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

see nsaid

nonsteroid noun