fentanyl

[ fen-tuh-nil ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a synthetic, short-acting narcotic analgesic and sedative, C 22 H 28 N 2 O, used pharmacologically in anesthesia and neuroleptanalgesia, and also as an illicit drug: Drug dealers are lacing heroin with fentanyl.

   Medics quickly administered fentanyl to the injured soldiers.

   Drug dealers are lacing heroin with fentanyl.

fentanyl

/ ˈfɛntəˌnaɪl /

noun

1. a narcotic drug used in medicine to relieve pain

Word History and Origins

Origin of fentanyl¹

First recorded in 1960–65; contraction and respelling of the chemical name N-(1-phenethyl-4-piperidyl)propionanilide

Example Sentences

The story of a wayward anesthesia trainee who took a near fatal dose of fentanyl hit the news this week.

From The Daily Beast

Even if the dealer loads stamp bags with fentanyl and causes an overdose of 22 people in Pennsylvania?

From The Daily Beast