Showing results for anti-inflammatory. Search instead for nonsteroidal stop--inflammatory.

anti-inflammatory

American

[an-tee-in-flam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, an-tahy-] / ˌæn ti ɪnˈflæm əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

acting to reduce certain signs of inflammation, as swelling, tenderness, fever, and pain.

noun

plural

anti-inflammatories

Pharmacology. a medication, as aspirin, used to reduce inflammation.

anti-inflammatory British

adjective

reducing inflammation

"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

noun

any anti-inflammatory drug, such as cortisone, aspirin, or ibuprofen

"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

anti-inflammatory Scientific

/ ăn′tē-ĭn-flăm′ə-tôr′ē,ăn′tī- /

Preventing or reducing inflammation. Aspirin and ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory drugs.

Etymology

Origin of anti-inflammatory

First recorded in 1955–60

Explanation

An anti-inflammatory is an anti-inflammatory drug: a type of medicine that treats swelling and redness. Inflammation originally meant to be consumed by flames, and these days it usually means a type of soreness somewhere on your body that is red, feels hot, and and swells up. The anti prefix tells you that this word goes against the root, and anti-inflammatories are drugs that treat or fight against inflammation. If you have a red, swollen ankle, an anti-inflammatory might help.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing anti-inflammatory

Power Prefix: Anti

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: ant-, anti-

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: ant, anti

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

While sales of Stelara, J&J’s former blockbuster, continued to decline, multiple myeloma treatment Darzalex and anti-inflammatory medicine Tremfya drove strength in the company’s Innovative Medicines portfolio.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

When tested individually, capsaicin showed the strongest anti-inflammatory effect.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

He won one of the first major wrongful-death trials against pharma company Merck over claims that the prescription anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx caused heart problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Revenue tied to the anti-inflammatory drug Humira, once touted as a major blockbuster, fell 26% to $1.2 billion.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

“Ponya seeds are anti-inflammatory, disinfecting, and, incidentally, an excellent source of protein. Here.”

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023