subpotent

1 of 2

adjective

sub·​po·​tent ˌsəb-ˈpō-tᵊnt 

: less potent than normal

subpotent drugs

subpotency

ˌsəb-ˈpō-tᵊn(t)-sē 

noun

subpotency

2 of 2

noun

sub·​potency "+ 

: reduced capacity to transmit hereditary characters

Examples of subpotent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, our experts have seen dozens of new brands pop up in the market with hand sanitizer launches, some of which have come under fire by the FDA for having subpotent levels of actives or having harmful contaminants. —Birnur Aral, Ph.d., Good Housekeeping, 6 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

sub- + potency

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

subpotent

adjective

sub·​po·​tent ˌsəb-ˈpōt-ᵊnt-, ˈsəb- 

: less potent than normal

subpotent drugs

subpotency

-ˈpōt-ᵊn-sē 

noun

plural subpotencies