styptic

American  

[stip-tik] / ˈstɪp tɪk /

adjective

1. serving to contract organic tissue; astringent; binding.

2. serving to check hemorrhage or bleeding, as a drug; hemostatic.

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noun

1. a styptic agent or substance.

styptic British  

/ stɪpˈtɪsɪtɪ, ˈstɪptɪk /

adjective

1. contracting the blood vessels or tissues

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noun

1. a styptic drug

Other Word Forms

• nonstyptic adjective
• nonstyptical adjective
• stypticalness noun
• stypticity noun

Etymology

Origin of styptic

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin stȳpticus < Greek stȳpikós contractile, equivalent to stȳp- ( see stypsis) + -tikos -tic

Explanation

In medicine, something that's styptic is meant to stop the flow of blood. Some people have styptic pencils in their medicine cabinets in case they cut themselves shaving. Styptic agents (like styptic pencils) slow bleeding from cuts. They contain astringents that work to contract tissue and seal blood vessels, and before the invention of safety razors, they were a common part of shaving kits. The Greek root of styptic is styphein, "to constrict."

Example Sentences

He and others also recommended I keep compression bandages and styptic powder—which can be applied to small wounds to help stop bleeding—in stock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 27, 2025

The pilots transport medical supplies for cancer patients, first-aid kits for bone fractures, styptic drugs and medicines that need to be refrigerated, such as insulin.

From Reuters • Apr. 14, 2022

Also, styptic pencils to stanch cuts, and tampons, for nosebleeds, ominous inclusions in an environment where bodily fluids may be deadly.

From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2015

Like Simon Cowell, he is clearly a man who can compute profit margins within the space of a single styptic blink.

From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2011

But I waited while he dabbed at the cut with styptic powder.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes