Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

piracetam

noun
Save Word
pir·​ac·​e·​tam | \ ˌpī(-ə)r-ˈa-sə-ˌtam How to pronounce piracetam (audio) \

Definition of piracetam

: an amine C6H10N2O2 that has been used as a nootropic

Examples of piracetam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Of the four that actually did contain piracetam, one had dangerously high levels. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Researchers find dangerous, FDA-rejected drug in supplements—by reading labels," 26 Nov. 2019 The agency has specifically called out supplement makers for selling piracetam. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Researchers find dangerous, FDA-rejected drug in supplements—by reading labels," 26 Nov. 2019 The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t allow piracetam to be sold as a dietary supplement and has issued warning letters in the past to other companies marketing supplements that contain it. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, "Some brain-boosting supplements contain an unapproved drug that could harm users, study warns," 25 Nov. 2019 The idea that piracetam might reverse that effect was exciting. — Sara Solovitch, Washington Post, "Tweaking brains with ‘smart drugs’ to get ahead in Silicon Valley," 11 June 2017 Modafinil, used in the treatment of narcolepsy, and piracetam, for dementia, are two of the most popular. — Aaron E. Carroll, New York Times, "Maria Sharapova and the Pharmaceutical Quest for an Edge," 11 Mar. 2016 A 1999 study found that piracetam had beneficial effects on the hippocampal membranes of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. — Sara Solovitch, Washington Post, "Tweaking brains with ‘smart drugs’ to get ahead in Silicon Valley," 11 June 2017

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

See More

First Known Use of piracetam

1972, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for piracetam

International Scientific Vocabulary pir- (alteration of pyrrolidine, a pyrrole derivative) + acetamide

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about piracetam

Time Traveler for piracetam

Time Traveler

The first known use of piracetam was in 1972

See more words from the same year

Statistics for piracetam

Last Updated

29 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Piracetam.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piracetam. Accessed 21 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for piracetam

piracetam

noun
pir·​ac·​e·​tam | \ ˌpī(ə)r-ˈas-ə-ˌtam How to pronounce piracetam (audio) \

Medical Definition of piracetam

: a derivative C6H10N2O2 of pyrrolidine that has been used as a nootropic

Comments on piracetam

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

bonhomie

Listen to the pronounciation of bonhomie

good-natured easy friendliness

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

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

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games