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

The main concern is that the side effects can cause people to reduce or stop taking statins. — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 23 July 2026

The drug from Merck was OK’d for patients with artery-clogging cholesterol that persists even after taking statins, the standard medications for cutting heart attack risk. — Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Nearly all of the patients in the two Merck clinical trials were also taking a statin, and many were also taking a different cholesterol-lowering drug, ezetimibe. — Anne Thompson, NBC news, 16 July 2026

The drug from Merck was OK’d on Thursday for patients with artery-clogging cholesterol that persists even after taking statins, the standard medications for cutting heart attack risk. — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 16 July 2026

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