pentavalent

American  

[pen-tuh-vey-luhnt, pen-tav-uh-] / ˌpɛn təˈveɪ lənt, pɛnˈtæv ə- /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. having a valence of 5.

   pentavalent arsenic.

2. quinquevalent.

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pentavalent British  

/ ˌpɛntəˈveɪlənt /

adjective

1. Also: quinquevalent.  chem having a valency of five

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Etymology

Origin of pentavalent

First recorded in 1870–75; penta- + -valent

Example Sentences

The WHO said that only 57% of Nigerians are immunised with the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five life-threatening diseases, including diphtheria.

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2023

MenAfriVac is given to 1- to 29-year-olds, who are most vulnerable to bacterial meningitis; one possibility is to lower the upper age limit for the pentavalent vaccine.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 7, 2021

Jacob Puliyel, head of pediatrics at St Stephen's Hospital in Delhi, has been a vocal opponent of both the HPV vaccines and the pentavalent vaccine.

From Scientific American • Jun. 22, 2011

Take the pentavalent vaccine, which combines immunisation against five diseases, such as whooping cough and diphtheria, into one.

From Economist • Jun. 16, 2011

Adj. quinquefid, quinquelateral, quinquepartite; quinqevalent, pentavalent; quinquarticular†; octifid†; decimal, tenth, tithe; duodecimal, twelfth; sexagesimal†, sexagenary†; hundredth, centesimal; millesimal &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark