tachyphylaxis

[ tak-uh-fi-lak-sis ]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. immediate, temporary immunization against the effects of injection of a toxic extract owing to previous small injections of the same extract.
2. a decreased response to a medicine given over a period of time so that larger doses are required to produce the same response.

tachyphylaxis

/ ˌtækɪfɪˈlæksɪs /

noun

1. very rapid development of tolerance or immunity to the effects of a drug

Other Words From

• tach·y·phy·lac·tic [tak-, uh, -fi-, lak, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tachyphylaxis¹

tachy- + Greek phýlaxis a guarding, equivalent to phylak- (stem of phylássein to guard) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of tachyphylaxis¹

New Latin, from tachy- + phylaxis on the model of prophylaxis. See prophylactic