tranquilizer

American  

[trang-kwuh-lahy-zer] / ˈtræŋ kwəˌlaɪ zər /

Or tranquillizer

noun

1. a person or thing that tranquilizes.

2. a drug that has a sedative or calming effect without inducing sleep.

3. antianxiety drug.

4. antipsychotic.

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Etymology

Origin of tranquilizer

First recorded in 1790–1800; tranquilize + -er ¹

Explanation

A medication that's used to relax patients is called a tranquilizer. If someone suffers from severe anxiety, their doctor might prescribe a tranquilizer. The word tranquilizer is commonly used for anti-anxiety or anti-psychotic drugs, but it's not the term most medical professionals use. They are much more likely to use sedative, neuroleptic, or anxiolytic for a calming medication. Tranquilizer, from tranquility or "the state of being calm," was first used for sedatives in 1824, and for anti-anxiety drugs in 1954.

Related Words

• opiate
• sedative