radiopharmaceutical

noun

ra·​dio·​phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌrā-dē-ō-ˌfär-mə-ˈsü-ti-kəl 

: a radioactive drug used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

radiopharmaceutical adjective

Examples of radiopharmaceutical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nuclear and Precision Health Solutions operates nuclear pharmacies and manufacturing facilities, including for radiopharmaceuticals used in PET scans. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026

The drug had been developed by ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE, a long-standing player in the field of radiopharmaceuticals, which are an emerging treatment designed to shoot radioactive isotopes directly at tumor cells. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026

The world of nuclear medicine is on the cusp of unprecedented advancements powered by the rapid evolution of radiopharmaceuticals. — Stephen Belcher, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for radiopharmaceutical

• cuticle
• hermeneutical
• pharmaceutical

Medical Definition

radiopharmaceutical

1 of 2 noun

ra·​dio·​phar·​ma·​ceu·​ti·​cal ˌrād-ē-ō-ˌfär-mə-ˈsüt-i-kəl 

: a radioactive drug used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

radiopharmaceutical

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being a radiopharmaceutical

radiopharmaceutical agents