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Synonyms

benzodiazepine

American  
[ben-zoh-dahy-az-uh-peen, -ay-zuh-] / ˌbɛn zoʊ daɪˈæz əˌpin, -ˈeɪ zə- /

noun

Pharmacology.
  1. any of a family of minor tranquilizers that act against anxiety and convulsions and produce sedation and muscle relaxation.


benzodiazepine British  
/ ˌbɛnzəʊdaɪˈeɪzəˌpiːn /

noun

  1. any of a group of chemical compounds that are used as minor tranquillizers, such as diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

"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

Etymology

Origin of benzodiazepine

First recorded in 1965–70; benz- + diazep(am) + -ine 2

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:

More than 310,000 of the benzodiazepine patients also received muscle relaxants, another type of drug the Beers guidelines say seniors should avoid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

Other states replaced sodium thiopental with the benzodiazepine midazolam, which is also used as a sedative before medical procedures.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 23, 2022

She urged people dealing with benzodiazepine withdrawal to advocate for themselves as much as they can.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2021

Following her pharmacologist’s advice, Laura first stopped Ativan, the benzodiazepine.

From The New Yorker ● Apr. 1, 2019

For example, a common way to break a seizure is to treat someone with a benzodiazepine such as Ativan or Valium.

From Slate ● Jun. 28, 2017

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