inhibitor

noun

in·​hib·​i·​tor in-ˈhi-bə-tər 

: one that inhibits: such as

a

: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical action

b

: a substance that reduces or suppresses the activity of another substance (such as an enzyme)

Examples of inhibitor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the area also got a recent boost from San Diego Fire-Rescue, which sent out a crew this Halloween to spray roadside brush with a fire inhibitor designed to slow the march of flames. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025

Grippin and his colleagues analyzed medical records from more than 1,000 patients with advanced lung and skin cancers who had undergone treatment with a type of immunotherapy called checkpoint inhibitors. —Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025

Expanding options for patients For people with high LDL cholesterol who may not respond sufficiently to commonly used treatments like statins alone, there is already the option to take injectable cholesterol-lowering PCSK9 inhibitors that are currently on the market. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

Instead of thinking of uncertainty as an inhibitor in your life, think of it as a chance to try something new. —Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing inhibitor

• ACE inhibitor
• protease inhibitor
• proton pump inhibitor
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Rhymes for inhibitor

• exhibitor

Medical Definition

inhibitor

noun

in·​hib·​i·​tor in-ˈhib-ət-ər 

: one that inhibits: as

a

: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical reaction

b

: a substance that reduces the activity of another substance (as an enzyme)

c

: a gene that checks the normal effect of another nonallelic gene when both are present