metronidazole

American  

[me-truh-nahy-duh-zohl] / ˌmɛ trəˈnaɪ dəˌzoʊl /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a synthetic antimicrobial substance, C 6 H 9 N 3 O 3 , used chiefly in the treatment of infections, such as Trichomonas vaginalis and certain anaerobic bacterial infections.

---

metronidazole British  

/ ˌmɛtrəˈnaɪdəˌzəʊl /

noun

1. a pale yellow crystalline compound used to treat vaginal trichomoniasis. Formula: C 6 H 9 N 3 O 3

---

Etymology

Origin of metronidazole

First recorded in 1960–65; contraction of 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole part of the chemical name

Example Sentences

SC65A.3 is the first Psychrobacter strain found to resist certain antibiotics, including trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2026

Treating the mice with the antibiotics metronidazole or chloramphenicol, administered vaginally, reduced the development of endometriosis, and shrank the number and size of the lesions.

From Scientific American • Jun. 19, 2023

People on metronidazole must avoid consuming alcohol until at least three days after they stop the medication.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2021

In 2017, Bullman, who was working in Meyerson’s lab at the time, showed that the antibiotic metronidazole could slow cancer growth in mice with Fusobacterium-positive tumours7.

From Nature • Jan. 28, 2020

But there are a few medications that have no data indicating adverse effects, Dr. Baldwin said, including metronidazole, clindamycin and azelaic acid.

From New York Times • Jul. 30, 2019