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

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol-lowering drug that is often prescribed with statins to reduce LDL even more. —Linda Carroll, NBC news, 7 May 2025

Patients can obtain the statin without a prescription, but the medications are placed behind the pharmacy counter and distributed after a pharmacist’s consultation. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

The task force's recommendations help determine which preventative medical services insurers must cover at no cost, including cancer screenings, cholesterol-lowering statins, and HIV prevention drugs like PrEP. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday considered a case that could impact whether Americans have to pay out-of-pocket for preventive-care services such as diabetes screenings, HIV-prevention drugs and statins, which are currently provided to patients at no cost under the Affordable Care Act. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 Apr. 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