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Definition of benadryl

benadryl

/ˈbɛn.ə.drɪl/
Ben · a · dryl
Plural:benadryls
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benadryl Lexical Profile

benadryl Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A trademarked brand of over-the-counter antihistamine medication (containing diphenhydramine in North America) used to relieve allergy symptoms, hay fever, insect bites, and insomnia, or a tablet or dose of this medication.

Example

"She took a Benadryl before bed to calm the hives and help her sleep through the night."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for benadryl

Word Nuance & Usage

Although originally a registered trademark (capitalized as Benadryl), it is frequently used generically in everyday speech to refer to any over-the-counter diphenhydramine medication. Note that in the United Kingdom, products sold under the Benadryl brand typically contain acrivastine or cetirizine rather than diphenhydramine.

• Nearby Words

bemusing
ben
ben nevis
benadryl
bench
benchmark
benchmarking

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1940s as a trade name from the chemical name of its active ingredient, beta-dimethylaminoethyl benzhydryl ether hydrochloride.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Benadryl. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/benadryl
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