analgesic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Medical, formal
Quick answer
What does “analgesic” mean?
A substance or drug that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substance or drug that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Any agent, method, or situation that numbs or reduces emotional or psychological pain, analogous to physical pain relief.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The adjective 'analgesic' is more common in formal medical contexts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with professional medical and pharmacological contexts. In everyday speech, simpler terms like 'painkiller' are preferred.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to larger volume of medical advertising and direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical marketing.
Grammar
How to Use “analgesic” in a Sentence
[subject] acts as/has an analgesic effect[patient] was given/administered an analgesic[drug] possesses analgesic propertiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “analgesic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not standard. The verb form is 'analgize' but is extremely rare and non-standard.]
American English
- [Not standard. The verb form is 'analgize' but is extremely rare and non-standard.]
adverb
British English
- [Not standard. No common adverb form.]
American English
- [Not standard. No common adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- The doctor explained the drug's analgesic properties.
- They applied an analgesic cream to the sore joint.
American English
- The medication has a strong analgesic effect.
- She was given an analgesic patch for her back pain.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in pharmaceutical company reports or marketing materials for over-the-counter medications.
Academic
Common in medical, pharmacological, and biological research papers discussing pain management and drug mechanisms.
Everyday
Uncommon. The average speaker would use 'painkiller' (e.g., paracetamol, ibuprofen).
Technical
The primary register. Standard term in clinical settings, pharmacology, medicine labels, and medical textbooks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “analgesic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “analgesic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “analgesic”
- Mispronunciation: /æn.əlˈɡes.ɪk/ (hard 'g') is incorrect. The 'g' is soft /dʒ/.
- Using 'analgesic' as a verb (e.g., 'This analgesics the pain') is incorrect.
- Confusing it with 'anti-inflammatory', which reduces swelling but may also have analgesic effects.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An analgesic relieves pain while the patient remains conscious. An anesthetic causes a loss of sensation, often with loss of consciousness (general anesthetic) or in a specific area (local anesthetic).
Yes, but this is a figurative or metaphorical extension (e.g., 'Music was an analgesic for his grief'). In literal, medical contexts, it refers only to physical pain relief.
The most common error is pronunciation, using a hard 'g' sound (/ɡ/) instead of the correct soft 'g' (/dʒ/), as in 'age'.
In everyday language, yes. However, in technical medical writing, 'analgesic' is the precise, formal term. 'Painkiller' is informal and can sometimes colloquially refer to stronger prescription drugs.
A substance or drug that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Analgesic is usually technical/medical, formal in register.
Analgesic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.əlˈdʒiː.zɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.əlˈdʒiː.zɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word is too technical for idiomatic use.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANALGESIC' = 'AN' (without) + 'ALGESIA' (pain condition). It's a drug that puts you in a state 'without pain'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAIN IS AN AGGRESSOR/INTRUDER; AN ANALGESIC IS A SHIELD/DEFENDER that blocks or repels the attacker.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'analgesic' LEAST likely to be used?