antidepressant

American

[an-tee-di-pres-uhnt, an-tahy-] / ˌæn ti dɪˈprɛs ənt, ˌæn taɪ- /

Also anti-depressant,

adjective

of or relating to a substance that is used in the treatment of mood disorders, as characterized by various manic or depressive affects.

noun

Also called energizer, psychic energizer. any such substance, as a tricyclic antidepressant, MAO inhibitor, or lithium.

antidepressant British

/ ˌæntɪdɪˈprɛsənt /

noun

any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

of or relating to this class of drugs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

antidepressant Scientific

/ ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs′ənt,ăn′tī- /

A drug used to prevent or treat depression.

Etymology

Origin of antidepressant

First recorded in 1960–65; anti- + depressant

Explanation

An antidepressant is a drug used to treat depression. Unfortunately, many antidepressants have unwanted side effects. Depression is a form of extreme sadness, when you're so sad that it impairs your ability to function. Words starting with anti are the opposite or go against other things. Antidepressants, then, are drugs that fight depression. If you’re depressed, a doctor can prescribe an antidepressant such as Prozac or Zoloft. Antidepressants can improve your mood, but they often have side effects such as weight gain or headaches.

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Vocabulary lists containing antidepressant

Prefixes: anti-

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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.

Lara Tang, from Portishead near Bristol, was prescribed antidepressant fluoxetine by her GP for depression and anxiety when she was 16.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

They also scored higher on depression questionnaires and were more likely to have been prescribed antidepressant medications.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

If ketamine’s antidepressant effect owed to, say, inducing neuroplasticity, the drug should still work even if participants were unconscious.

From Slate • Jan. 30, 2026

If you walk into Gilberg’s office demanding an antidepressant prescription, for example, he will suggest you go elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

In the room, Nathan noticed a pamphlet selling antidepressant medication.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023