aspirin

American  

[as-per-in, -prin] / ˈæs pər ɪn, -prɪn /

noun

• aspirin,
  plural
• aspirins
  plural

1. Pharmacology. a white, crystalline substance, C 9 H 8 O 4 , derivative of salicylic acid, used as an anti-inflammatory agent and to relieve the pain of headache, rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, etc.; acetylsalicylic acid.

2. an aspirin tablet.

   I took two aspirin and went right to bed.

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aspirin British  

/ ˈæsprɪn /

noun

1. Chemical name: acetylsalicylic acid. a white crystalline compound widely used in the form of tablets to relieve pain and fever, to reduce inflammation, and to prevent strokes. Formula: CH 3 COOC 6 H 4 COOH

2. a tablet of aspirin

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aspirin Scientific  

/ ăs′pər-ĭn,ăs′prĭn /

1. A white crystalline compound derived from salicylic acid and used in medicine to relieve fever and pain and as an anticoagulant. Also called acetylsalicylic acid. Chemical formula: C ₉ H ₈ O ₄ .

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Closer Look

Ninety percent of the population experiences at least one headache each year. The most common type is a tension headache, which is caused by stress and is characterized by tightening of the muscles in the base of the neck and along the scalp. Aspirin alleviates headaches by blocking the body's production of prostaglandins, hormones that contribute to pain by stimulating muscle contraction and blood vessel dilation. For thousands of years, people chewed the bark of willow trees to control headache and other pain. The study of the properties of this medicinal plant led German chemist Hermann Kolbe to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a building block of aspirin, in 1859. A pure form of ASA wasn't prepared until 1897, by Felix Hoffman, a chemist in the Bayer chemical factory in Germany. After publication of successful clinical trials, aspirin was distributed in powder form in 1899 and as a tablet in 1900. Aspirin possesses a number of properties that make it one of the most recommended drugs. Besides being an analgesic, or pain reliever, it also reduces inflammation that often accompanies injuries or diseases, such as arthritis. It is also an antipyretic compound, or fever reducer. Aspirin is the only over-the-counter analgesic approved for prevention of cardiovascular disease. New research suggests that aspirin may also decrease the risk of some forms of stroke. Additional studies indicate that aspirin may play a role in reducing the risks of ovarian cancer.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• aspirin
  plural
• aspirins
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of aspirin

First recorded in 1899; originally a German trademark, equivalent to A(cetyl) + Spir(säure) “salicylic acid” + -in noun suffix; see acetyl, spirea, -in ²

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Explanation

Aspirin is a medicine you might take when you have a headache. You can buy aspirin at a drug store, supermarket, or convenience store. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory drug — it reduces pain, swelling, and fever. Some people take aspirin in very small amounts to reduce the risk of having a stroke or heart attack, and since the late 1800s people have taken it to ease the pain of head and body aches. The word aspirin, coined by a German chemist, was originally a trademarked brand name, from the Latin Spiraea, the plant from which aspirin's chemicals were originally extracted.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aspirin aspirins

“It’s like taking an aspirin for a headache when you have a brain tumor,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

Although the findings suggest that aspirin could have different effects depending on a person's genes, researchers emphasize that the results must be confirmed before they can guide medical recommendations.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

He has described the persistent bruises on Trump’s hands as the result of frequent hand shaking and his aspirin regimen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

From six weeks, she started taking daily blood-thinning injections and aspirin.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

They use a lot of aspirin, but they seem to write very few prescriptions and almost never treat family fever with antibiotics.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

“Auntie Dosie had to have three aspirins, but Auntie Hannah, who liked port, stood in the middle of the snowbound back yard, singing like a big-bosomed thrush.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

"The next morning, when I started having the symptoms and I clearly knew what was going on, she put one of those aspirins inside of my tongue and that saved my life," said Banderas.

From Fox News ● Nov. 1, 2019

While there are no $10 aspirins, there’s not much in the way of other amenities, either.

From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2014

Federer's expression suggested he had been forced to suck aspirins.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 15, 2010

Besides the Bible, clothing, and toilet things, it now held vitamins, aspirins, iron pills for Betsie’s anemia, and much else.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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