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Definition of novocaine

novocaine

/ˈnoʊvəkeɪn/
no · vo · caine
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novocaine Lexical Profile

novocaine Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A synthetic local anesthetic (procaine hydrochloride) formerly widely used in dentistry and minor surgery to numb pain, or any similar dental local anesthetic in general.

Example

"The dentist waited ten minutes for the novocaine to take full effect before beginning to fill the cavity."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for novocaine

Word Nuance & Usage

Although originally a proprietary trademark for procaine, "novocaine" is widely used in everyday speech as a generic term for any local anesthetic injected during dental procedures, even though modern dentists now primarily use lidocaine or articaine.

• Nearby Words

november
novice
novo
novocaine
now
nowadays
nowhere

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1905 by German chemist Alfred Einhorn from the Latin 'novus' (meaning "new") and '-caine' (a clipped ending from 'cocaine', the earlier local anesthetic it was synthesized to replace).

Cite this Entry

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