cough syrup

noun

1. a medicated, syruplike fluid, usually flavored and nonnarcotic or mildly narcotic, for relieving coughs or soothing irritated throats.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cough syrup¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

At least 11 victims - aged one to six - had died within days of taking a common cough syrup.

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Between December 2019 and January 2020, at least 12 children under five died in Jammu in Indian-administered Kashmir allegedly from cough syrup, with activists suggesting the number of casualties might have been higher.

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The Indian cough syrup market is set to soar from $262.5m in 2024 to $743m by 2035, growing at a compound annual rate of 9.9%, according to Market Research Future.

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"Parents aren't always well-informed, and they can become impatient. If a child's cough or cold doesn't improve in a couple of days, they often consult another doctor who will give a cough syrup," says Dr Khan.

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The stakes are real: the Madhya Pradesh doctor who prescribed the syrup linked to recent child deaths defended his practice, saying, "I've been prescribing this cough syrup for 15 years."

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