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

Marijuana, meanwhile, is any part of the plant — or product made from it — that contains higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the compound known for causing feelings of euphoria and relaxation. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026

Cannabis produces a complex suite of bioactive compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), but how these molecules evolved has long been a mystery. —New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, if a plant contains no more than 0.3% of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the compound that gives users a buzzy high, it's considered hemp. —Bill Chappell, NPR, 24 Nov. 2025

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

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