abortifacient

[ uh-bawr-tuh-fey-shuhnt ]

adjective

1. causing abortion.

noun

1. a drug or device used to cause abortion:

   a biochemical abortifacient in pill form.

abortifacient

/ əˌbɔːtɪˈfeɪʃənt /

adjective

1. causing abortion

noun

1. a drug or agent that causes abortion

Word History and Origins

Origin of abortifacient¹

First recorded in 1870–75; abort + -i- + -facient ( def )

Example Sentences

This means if prosecutors want to go after a woman, they can claim the aspirin she took for a headache was an abortifacient.

From Time

But medical science is clear: emergency contraception is not an abortifacient.

From The Daily Beast

Unfavorable publicity, the abortifacient of new enterprises, would mean you could hardly give the stuff away.

From Project Gutenberg

It is also used as an abortifacient, but is too mild a uterine stimulant to be reliable for that purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

Amongst them must theoretically be included all abortifacient drugs.

From Project Gutenberg

The oil of savin is now occasionally used criminally as an abortifacient.

From Project Gutenberg

It is sometimes taken as an abortifacient or given as an aphrodisiac, but whether it has any such action is open to question.

From Project Gutenberg