Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

noradrenaline

American  
[nawr-uh-dren-l-in, -een] / ˌnɔr əˈdrɛn l ɪn, -ˌin /
Also noradrenalin

noradrenaline British  
/ ˌnɔːrəˈdrɛnəlɪn, -ˌliːn, -lIn /

noun

  1. US name: norepinephrine. a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, and by the endings of sympathetic nerves, when it acts as a neurotransmitter both centrally and peripherally. Formula: C 8 H 11 NO 3

"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

noradrenaline Scientific  
/ nôr′ə-drĕn′ə-lĭn /

Etymology

Origin of noradrenaline

First recorded in 1930–35; nor- + adrenaline

Compare meaning

How does noradrenaline compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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:

Following immersion in 57-degree water, subjects in one study experienced a 530% increase in plasma noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter associated with euphoria and mental clarity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

The neurochemicals involved in this process are different than those mediating habit formation and include a chemical messenger called noradrenaline and internally produced opioids such as endorphins.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2025

This dip in blood sugar sparks the release of adrenaline and its cousin noradrenaline.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2024

Additionally, quantitative protein analysis confirmed that the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased and the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin were significantly increased in the hippocampus.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2023

The researchers also found that blocking noradrenaline release made mice less accurate at mastering when to push a lever for a water reward.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 29, 2022

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training