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acetaminophen

American  
[uh-see-tuh-min-uh-fuhn] / əˌsi təˈmɪn ə fən /

noun

Pharmacology.
  1. a crystalline substance, C 8 H 9 NO 2 , used as a headache and pain reliever and to reduce fever.


acetaminophen Scientific  
/ ə-sē′tə-mĭn′ə-fən,ăs′ə- /
  1. A crystalline compound used in medicine to relieve pain and reduce fever. Chemical formula: C 8 H 9 NO 2.


Etymology

Origin of acetaminophen

First recorded in 1955–60; acet- + amino- + phen(ol)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

To determine how quickly material was leaving the stomach, the researchers also administered acetaminophen, a common pain reliever.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

Dalziel notes that acetaminophen and ibuprofen are among the medicines most often prescribed or purchased over the counter for babies around the world.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

A Kenvue spokesman said the ruling Monday “does not change the fact that credible, independent science shows no proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

"And we are certainly not deciding the approach that policymakers concerned with protecting public health should take to regulating the use of acetaminophen."

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

He said the appeals court ruling wasn’t a determination of whether acetaminophen use during pregnancy has adverse effects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

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