pentobarbital

noun

pen·​to·​bar·​bi·​tal ˌpen-tə-ˈbär-bə-ˌtȯl 

: a granular barbiturate C₁₁H₁₈N₂O₃ used especially in the form of its sodium or calcium salt as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic

Examples of pentobarbital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Executioners delivered the fatal dose of pentobarbital in the death chamber of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. —Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Smith, 75, was pronounced dead after a lethal injection of the barbiturate pentobarbital. —CBS News, 22 May 2025

Since the death penalty was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court in 1976, the federal government has executed 16 prisoners with a high dose of the sedative pentobarbital. —Chiara Eisner, NPR, 21 Jan. 2025

Witnesses could hear prison officials asking for the first dose of pentobarbital, which was different from previous executions. —Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

penta- + -o- + barbital

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pentobarbital

• barbital

Medical Definition

pentobarbital

noun

pen·​to·​bar·​bi·​tal ˌpent-ə-ˈbär-bə-ˌtȯl 

: a granular barbiturate used especially in the form of its sodium salt C₁₁H₁₇N₂NaO₃ or calcium salt (C₁₁H₁₇N₂O₃)₂Ca as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic