tetrahydrocannabinol

noun

tet·​ra·​hy·​dro·​can·​nab·​i·​nol ˌte-trə-ˌhī-drə-kə-ˈna-bə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: thc

CBD is just one of dozens of cannabinoids found in cannabis, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the one responsible for marijuana's famous high.

—Christie Aschwanden

… gummy bears infused with THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient in pot.

—Marshall Allen

Examples of tetrahydrocannabinol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers injected mice with varying doses of CP55940, a synthetic cannabinoid that mimics the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, or TCH, the main psychoactive compound in weed. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026

The main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

The active compound, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), occurs naturally in the hemp plant. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Marijuana contains a different form of cannabinoid than the one naturally produced by the brain, THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. — Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

tetrahydro- (combined with four atoms of hydrogen) + cannabin + -ol entry 1

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tetrahydrocannabinol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol

Medical Definition

tetrahydrocannabinol

noun

tet·​ra·​hy·​dro·​can·​nab·​i·​nol -kə-ˈnab-ə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: thc

especially : thc sense a