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

Given this inconsistency, use cannabis products containing THC (short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) where its use is legal. —Carly Fisher, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025

Marijuana, derived from the cannabis plant, contains two primary compounds — tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Seven products contained undisclosed active ingredients such as caffeine, kava extract (a legal herbal supplement with antianxiety and hallucinogenic effects) and cannabis extract (including the plant’s main psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC). —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025

That’s the compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the major active ingredient in cannabis thought to be responsible for the psychoactive effects of use. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025

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

• phosphatidylinositol
• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball

Medical Definition

tetrahydrocannabinol

noun

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

: thc

especially : thc sense a