anti-inflammatory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Medical
Quick answer
What does “anti-inflammatory” mean?
A drug or substance that reduces inflammation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A drug or substance that reduces inflammation.
1. Having the property of reducing inflammation. 2. A medical treatment or approach aimed at reducing inflammation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Spelling as a single hyphenated word is standard in both variants.
Connotations
Same clinical, medical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both medical/health discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “anti-inflammatory” in a Sentence
[be] + anti-inflammatory[have] + anti-inflammatory + properties/effects[take/prescribe] + [an] + anti-inflammatoryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anti-inflammatory” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The doctor recommended an anti-inflammatory gel for my knee.
- Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
American English
- She's on an anti-inflammatory diet for her arthritis.
- Ibuprofen is a common anti-inflammatory medication.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used in pharmaceutical or supplement industry contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and pharmacological research.
Everyday
Common in health-related conversations, e.g., discussing medication for injuries or arthritis.
Technical
Core term in medicine, pharmacology, and nutrition science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anti-inflammatory”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anti-inflammatory”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anti-inflammatory”
- Using it as a general term for painkillers (e.g., paracetamol/acetaminophen is not primarily anti-inflammatory).
- Misspelling: 'anti inflamatory' or 'antiinflammation'.
- Confusing 'anti-inflammatory' (adj/noun) with 'reduce inflammation' (verb phrase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a noun: 'Take an anti-inflammatory.' As an adjective: 'It has anti-inflammatory properties.'
Not all painkillers (analgesics) are anti-inflammatories. Anti-inflammatories specifically reduce inflammation, which often, but not always, causes pain. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a painkiller but not a strong anti-inflammatory.
Yes, substances like omega-3 fatty acids (in fish oil), curcumin (in turmeric), and ginger have scientifically supported anti-inflammatory effects.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. It's the main class of common anti-inflammatory medicines, like ibuprofen or naproxen.
A drug or substance that reduces inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory is usually formal/medical in register.
Anti-inflammatory: in British English it is pronounced /ˌænti ɪnˈflæmətri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn(t)i ɪnˈflæməˌtɔri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ANTI (against) + INFLAMMATORY (swelling/redness). It fights inflammation.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A FIREFIGHTER (it 'puts out' the 'fire' of inflammation).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the primary function of an anti-inflammatory?