pseudoephedrine

American

[soo-doh-i-fed-rin, -ef-i-dreen, -drin] / ˌsu doʊ ɪˈfɛd rɪn, -ˈɛf ɪˌdrin, -drɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.

a dextrorotatory, isomeric compound, C 1 0 H 1 5 NO, used as a nasal decongestant.

pseudoephedrine British

/ ˌsjuːdəʊˈɛfɪˌdriːn, -ˌdrɪn /

noun

a drug similar in action to ephedrine, used extensively as a decongestant

"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

Etymology

Origin of pseudoephedrine

pseudo- + ephedrine

Compare meaning

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

pseudoephedrine vs. ephedrine

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.

Pseudoephedrine sales peaked at 431,000 boxes in 2013.

From Washington Times • Jul. 5, 2015

Pseudoephedrine was a controlled substance until 1976, when the Food and Drug Administration allowed it to be sold over the counter.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2011

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