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

Cholesterol Medication Interactions Hibiscus tea may interact with certain medications, such as statins (medications used to lower cholesterol). —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025

Heart disease costs $226 billion; statins and lifestyle programs are exponentially cheaper than heart failure admissions. —Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Hoff and Higgins attributed the decline in some types of heart disease deaths to diagnostic advancements and improvements in care, from the development of statins and other medications to procedures like revascularization, which helps to restore blood flow to parts of the heart. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 2 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

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