statin

noun

stat·​in ˈsta-tᵊn 

: any of a group of drugs (such as lovastatin and simvastatin) that inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and promote the production of LDL-binding receptors in the liver resulting in a usually marked decrease in the level of LDL and a modest increase in the level of HDL circulating in blood plasma

Examples of statin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And there are case reports of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) in people taking both cinnamon supplements and statins (cholesterol-lowering medications).23 2. —Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 29 July 2025

Medications like statins and high blood pressure drugs have also been shown to reduce the risk of early death due to events like heart attack and stroke, the authors wrote. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 8 May 2025

The decision could impact access to no-cost preventive services—including cancer screenings, statins and HIV prevention drugs like PrEP—for more than 150 million Americans. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025

Other services recommended since the ACA was passed include medications like statins to prevent heart disease, lung cancer screenings for certain adults, physical therapy for older people at risk of falling, and testing for hepatitis. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

from -statin (as in lovastatin)

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for statin

• aten
• clayton
• satan
• straighten
• creatine

Medical Definition

statin

noun

stat·​in ˈstat-ᵊn 

: any of a group of lipid-lowering drugs (as lovastatin and simvastatin) that function by inhibiting a liver enzyme which controls the synthesis of cholesterol and by promoting the production of LDL-binding receptors in the liver resulting in a usually marked decrease in the level of LDL and a modest increase in the level of HDL circulating in blood plasma