sulfanilamide

noun

sul·​fa·​nil·​amide ˌsəl-fə-ˈni-lə-ˌmīd How to pronounce sulfanilamide (audio) -məd How to pronounce sulfanilamide (audio)
: a crystalline sulfonamide C6H8N2O2S that is the parent compound of most of the sulfa drugs

Examples of sulfanilamide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 1937, an untested and poisonous liquid version of sulfanilamide, meant to treat bacterial infections, killed more than 100 people across 15 states. Ian Prasad Philbrick, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023 After elixir of sulfanilamide, a drug used to treat streptococcal infections, killed 107 people in 1937, Congress created the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Jen Christensen, CNN, 14 Apr. 2023 The experience of children who were born with severe disabilities from thalidomide in the 1950s and ’60s, like that of the victims of sulfanilamide poisoning in the ’30s, prompted significant strengthening of government oversight. Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 13 July 2021 Geiling and his lab of graduate students, including Kelsey, set out to determine what exactly in the elixir was killing people: the solvent, the flavor or the sulfanilamide. Leila McNeill, Smithsonian, 8 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sulfanilamide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

sulfanilic acid (C6H7NO3S, from International Scientific Vocabulary sulf- + aniline + -ic) + amide

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulfanilamide was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near sulfanilamide

Cite this Entry

“Sulfanilamide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfanilamide. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sulfanilamide

noun
sul·​fa·​nil·​amide ˌsəl-fə-ˈnil-ə-ˌmīd How to pronounce sulfanilamide (audio) -məd How to pronounce sulfanilamide (audio)
: a compound in the form of crystals that is the parent compound of most of the sulfa drugs

Medical Definition

sulfanilamide

noun
sul·​fa·​nil·​amide
variants or chiefly British sulphanilamide
: a crystalline sulfonamide C6H8N2O3S that is the amide of sulfanilic acid and the parent compound of most of the sulfa drugs

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