diethylstilbestrol

American  

[dahy-eth-uhl-stil-bes-trawl, -trol] / daɪˌɛθ əl stɪlˈbɛs trɔl, -trɒl /

Also stilbestrol, or diethylstilboestrol

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen, C 18 H 20 O 2 , used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and for chemical castration: formerly used during pregnancy for the prevention of miscarriage but discontinued owing to its association with an increased risk of vaginal and cervical cancers. DES

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diethylstilbestrol British  

/ daɪˌɛθɪlstɪlˈbɛstrɒl, -ˌiːθaɪl- /

noun

1. Also called: stilbestrol.   stilboestrol.  a synthetic hormone with oestrogenic properties, used to relieve menopausal symptoms. Formula: OHC 6 H 4 CH:CHC 6 H 4 OH

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diethylstilbestrol Scientific  

/ dī-ĕth′əl-stĭl-bĕs′trôl′,-trōl′ /

1. See DES

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Etymology

Origin of diethylstilbestrol

First recorded in 1935–40; di- ¹ + ethyl + stilbestrol, equivalent to stilb(ene) ( def. ), estr(us), -ol ¹

Example Sentences

In her speech, Ms. Sturgeon also apologized for how some women, up until the early ’70s, were given diethylstilbestrol, a drug that dried up their breast milk and that has been linked to cancer.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2023

Women who were exposed in utero to the drug diethylstilbestrol, or D.E.S., are also considered high risk.

From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2022

Cohn said in an interview that her group decided to investigate the long-term effects of Makena because of its similarity to another synthetic hormone called diethylstilbestrol, or DES.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2022

The danger of estrogen-like chemicals already has been well-documented with DES, or diethylstilbestrol, a drug that was prescribed to millions of women at risk of miscarriages between 1940 and 1971.

From Scientific American • Jul. 31, 2012

Preliminary studies suggest that undescended testicles may be more frequent in boys born to women who received the hormone diethylstilbestrol, or DES, during pregnancy.

From Time Magazine Archive