antidepressant

American  

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

Also anti-depressant,

adjective

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

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noun

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

antidepressant British  

/ ˌæntɪdɪˈprɛsənt /

noun

1. any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression

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adjective

1. of or relating to this class of drugs

antidepressant Scientific  

/ ăn′tē-dĭ-prĕs′ənt,ăn′tī- /

1. A drug used to prevent or treat depression.

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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.

Example Sentences

On the surface level, it sounds nice to tell people that it’s better to try talk therapy and regular exercise than an antidepressant.

From Salon • May 18, 2026

The median length of antidepressant treatment in the U.S. is five years, another study found, despite limited evidence about the effectiveness of such long-term use.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

But it also persuaded the musician, who'd previously written a song about the effects of quitting Prozac, to go back on medication – in this case, the antidepressant Lexapro.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Prof. Takahashi explained, "Although ketamine has shown rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression, its molecular mechanism in the human brain has remained unclear."

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

She recommended that he get a prescription for an antidepressant.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel