Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

finasteride

American  
[fi-nas-tuh-rahyd] / fɪˈnæs təˌraɪd /

noun

Pharmacology.
  1. a drug, C 23 H 36 N 2 O 2 , that inhibits testosterone metabolism, used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern baldness.


Etymology

Origin of finasteride

First recorded in 1985–90; fina- (of unknown origin) + (testo)ster(one) ( def. ) + (am)ide ( def. )

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:

Now 24 years old, he takes a stronger version of finasteride along with oral minoxidil at a low dose to stave off side effects.

From The Wall Street Journal May 1, 2026

The oral version of minoxidil can cause unwanted hair growth on the face and other areas of the body, while finasteride can dampen libido and lead to erectile dysfunction.

From MarketWatch Feb. 25, 2026

Medications such as finasteride and minoxidil are widely prescribed, but concerns about side effects and long term use have pushed many patients to look for gentler, more holistic approaches.

From Science Daily Feb. 9, 2026

Brezis is calling for immediate changes in how drugs like finasteride are approved, monitored, and prescribed.

From Science Daily Oct. 13, 2025

"There will be some patients who have risk factors that might make finasteride a risky prescription. I'm not saying it can't be prescribed, but patients need to be appropriately counselled."

From BBC Jan. 23, 2025

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training