acetaminophen
acetaminophen Lexical Profile
acetaminophen Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A widely used over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drug taken to relieve mild-to-moderate pain and reduce fever.
"The pediatrician recommended a weight-appropriate dose of acetaminophen to help bring down the child's fever."
Word Nuance & Usage
In the United States, Canada, and Japan, this medication is called 'acetaminophen' (commonly sold under the brand name Tylenol), whereas in the United Kingdom, Australia, and most other parts of the world, the exact same drug is known as 'paracetamol'. Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin, it relieves pain and fever without significantly reducing inflammation.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as a syllabic contraction of its chemical name, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol.