efavirenz

[ uh-fah-vi-renz ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used with other medications to treat HIV infection in patients who have or do not have AIDS.

Word History and Origins

Origin of efavirenz¹

First recorded in 1950–55; shortening of e(thyne) ( def ) + f(luoro-) ( def ) + vir(us) ( def ) + (b)enz(yl) ( def )