anti-inflammatory

American  

[an-tee-in-flam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, an-tahy-] / ˌæn ti ɪnˈflæm əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

1. acting to reduce certain signs of inflammation, as swelling, tenderness, fever, and pain.

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noun

anti-inflammatories plural

1. Pharmacology. a medication, as aspirin, used to reduce inflammation.

anti-inflammatory British  

adjective

1. reducing inflammation

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noun

1. any anti-inflammatory drug, such as cortisone, aspirin, or ibuprofen

anti-inflammatory Scientific  

/ ăn′tē-ĭn-flăm′ə-tôr′ē,ăn′tī- /

1. Preventing or reducing inflammation. Aspirin and ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Etymology

Origin of anti-inflammatory

First recorded in 1955–60

Explanation

An anti-inflammatory is an anti-inflammatory drug: a type of medicine that treats swelling and redness. Inflammation originally meant to be consumed by flames, and these days it usually means a type of soreness somewhere on your body that is red, feels hot, and and swells up. The anti prefix tells you that this word goes against the root, and anti-inflammatories are drugs that treat or fight against inflammation. If you have a red, swollen ankle, an anti-inflammatory might help.

Example Sentences

Volkswagen was previously found guilty in the emissions cheating scandal, Pfizer over its promotion of the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra and Exxon for the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

Although treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications and immune-targeting drugs are available, many patients do not respond well enough or continue to experience symptoms despite therapy.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

Revenue growth for Taltz, an anti-inflammatory biologic medication, stalled in the quarter, which Meacham says is “unsurprising given flat scripts.”

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The company aims to defend the exclusivity of its blockbuster anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent—jointly developed with Regeneron—beyond the U.S. compound patent expiration in March 2031, Citi says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Politely he asks if there is a way that he can pay for his care, as well as the antibiotics and the anti-inflammatory drugs.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario