anesthetic

American  

[an-uhs-thet-ik] / ˌæn əsˈθɛt ɪk /

Or anaesthetic

noun

• anesthetics
  plural

1. a substance that produces anesthesia, as halothane, procaine, or ether.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or causing physical insensibility.

   an anesthetic gas.

2. physically insensitive.

   Halothane is used to produce an anesthetic state.

anesthetic British  

/ ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of anaesthetic

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anesthetic Scientific  

/ ăn′ĭs-thĕt′ĭk /

1. A drug that temporarily depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.

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anesthetic Cultural  

1. A substance that causes loss of sensation or consciousness. With the aid of an anesthetic, people can undergo surgery without pain. (See general anesthetic and local anesthetic.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonanesthetic
  adjective
• postanesthetic
  adjective
• semianesthetic
  adjective
• anesthetically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• anesthetics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anesthetic

1840–50, < Greek anaísthēt ( os ) without feeling, senseless + -ic; see an- ¹, aesthetic

Compare meaning

How does anesthetic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anesthesia vs. anesthetic

Explanation

The next time you go to the dentist, make sure you know the word anesthetic. This drug causes a temporary loss of feeling, making it your best friend if the drill has to be used. The word anesthetic traces back to the Greek word anaisthēsia, from a combination of an-, meaning “without” and aisthēsis, meaning “sensation.” If you take an anesthetic that’s what happens: you are temporarily without sensation, meaning you feel no pain. A general anesthetic causes temporary unconsciousness and is often used during surgeries. A local anesthetic numbs just one area, such your mouth or a finger.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anesthetic anesthetics

Many clinicians point to the paracervical block—a simple, targeted injection of a local anesthetic around the cervix—as a way to greatly reduce pain during IUD insertions.

From Slate ● Jun. 7, 2026

It is FDA-approved only as an anesthetic, and its use for psychiatric conditions is “off-label,” meaning its safety and efficacy hasn’t been vetted by the FDA for that purpose.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026

And on Saturday, she will undergo an anesthetic procedure and examination to fully assess her health and check whether she is suffering from low bone density because of malnutrition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2025

According to the guidelines, the topical anesthetic lidocaine “might be useful for reducing patient pain” when injected as a local anesthetic or applied topically as a numbing gel, cream or spray.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2024

I tried to smile, but I had swabbed on so much anesthetic my lips were frozen in place like fish in a frozen pond.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos

There were no antibiotics to fight infectious diseases, no reliable antiseptics or anesthetics for surgeries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

Their findings are detailed in the paper 'Growth in production and environmental deposition of trifluoroacetic acid due to long-lived CFC replacements and anesthetics'.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 6, 2026

Les spent long hours in the surgical theater, which in Macclesfield had little in the way of ventilation, and Joy typically found that he came home smelling of anesthetics, antiseptics and blood.

From New York Times ● Jun. 14, 2024

The settlement didn’t spell out the specific changes agreed to by the state, including whether anesthetics would be available.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

But if the doctor did the same procedure without anesthetics in a modern hospital, it would be very cruel indeed.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

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