hypotonic

adjective

hy·​po·​ton·​ic ˌhī-pə-ˈtä-nik 

-pō-

1

: having deficient tone or tension

hypotonic children

2

: having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison

hypotonic organisms

hypotonicity

ˌhī-pə-tə-ˈni-sə-tē 

-pō-

noun

Examples of hypotonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the contrary, a hypotonic pelvic floor is when the muscles are flaccid and not very reactive. — Mónica Heras, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2025

On Tuesday, the Real Housewives of Orange County alum, 36, recounted a heartbreaking story on Instagram involving her 3-year-old son Hart, who was diagnosed with hypotonic cerebral palsy last October. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 8 Sep. 2021

Less than two months after The Lancet publication, Latta performed the first therapeutic intravenous resuscitation in May of 1832 with infusions of a homemade solution, a watery hypotonic mix of sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate. — Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2016

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hypotonic

• anharmonic
• anionic
• avionic
• catatonic
• cationic
• chorionic
• cosmogonic
• diachronic
• diatonic
• electronic
• embryonic
• excitonic

Medical Definition

hypotonic

adjective

hy·​po·​ton·​ic ˌhī-pə-ˈtän-ik, -pō- 

1

: having deficient tone or tension

hypotonic children

2

: having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison

a hypotonic solution

compare hypertonic sense 2, isotonic sense 1

hypotonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb