phenytoin

noun

phe·nyt·o·in | \ fə-ˈni-tə-wən

\

Definition of phenytoin

: a crystalline anticonvulsant compound C₁₅H₁₂N₂O₂ used in the form of its sodium salt in the treatment of epilepsy

— called also diphenylhydantoin

Examples of phenytoin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Three years later, Snyder, whose team tested both raw and drinking-water samples at 18 U.S. sites, added ibuprofen, meprobamate (an antianxiety medication), and phenytoin (another antiseizure drug), along with other pharmaceuticals, to the list. — Rachael Moeller Gorman, Good Housekeeping, "Is Your Tap Water Safe?," 15 Aug. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phenytoin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about phenytoin

Dictionary Entries near phenytoin

phenylthiocarbamide

pheochromocytoma

Statistics for phenytoin

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for phenytoin

The first known use of phenytoin was in 1941

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for phenytoin

phenytoin

noun

phe·nyt·o·in | \ fə-ˈnit-ə-wən

\

Medical Definition of phenytoin

: an anticonvulsant used often in the form of its sodium salt C₁₅H₁₁N₂NaO₂ to prevent or treat seizures

— called also diphenylhydantoin

— see dilantin

Comments on phenytoin

What made you want to look up phenytoin? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

cumulate

to gather or build up little by little

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.

pole poll
pol poal

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games