Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

inhalant

[in-hey-luh nt]
See more synonyms for inhalant on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a medicine, allergen, or other substance that is inhaled.
  2. any volatile substance, as nitrous oxide, butyl nitrite, toluene, gasoline, or paint thinner, capable of being inhaled, sometimes abused for its intoxicating effect.
  3. inhaler.
Show More
adjective
  1. used for inhaling.
Show More

Origin of inhalant

First recorded in 1815–25; inhale + -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for inhalant

opiate, shot, dope, gas, soporific, analgesic, anodyne, hypnosis, inhalant, spinal, hypnotic, narcotic

Examples from the Web for inhalant

Historical Examples of inhalant

  • For consumption he provided an inhalant; for rheumatic conditions, a liniment.

    Health Through Will Power

    James J. Walsh

  • One method employed by Ugo da Lucca consisted of the use of an inhalant.

British Dictionary definitions for inhalant

inhalant

adjective
  1. (esp of a volatile medicinal formulation) inhaled for its soothing or therapeutic effect
  2. inhaling
Show More
noun
  1. an inhalant medicinal formulation
Show More
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

Word Origin and History for inhalant

1825 (adj.), c.1830 (n.)., from Latin inhalantem, present participle of inhalare (see inhale).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
inhalant in Medicine

inhalant

(ĭn-hā′lənt)
adj.
  1. Used in or for inhaling.
Show More
n.
  1. Something that is inhaled, especially a drug that is delivered to the respiratory passages by a nebulizer or an aerosol container.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.