antipyretic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Medical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “antipyretic” mean?
A substance or drug that reduces fever.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substance or drug that reduces fever.
Of or relating to the action of reducing fever; having fever-reducing properties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Pure medical/scientific term with no cultural connotations in either variety.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in non-specialist contexts in both BrE and AmE. More common in pharmacology, medicine, and related academic fields.
Grammar
How to Use “antipyretic” in a Sentence
The [Drug/Substance] is antipyretic.[Drug/Substance] has antipyretic properties.Prescribe/Administer an antipyretic for the fever.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antipyretic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not a verb in standard use)
American English
- (Not a verb in standard use)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard as an adverb; 'antipyretic' modifies a noun directly)
- The medicine acted antipyretically. (Extremely rare/technical)
American English
- (Not standard as an adverb)
- The drug functioned antipyretically. (Extremely rare/technical)
adjective
British English
- Paracetamol is a well-known antipyretic drug.
- The study focused on the plant's antipyretic qualities.
American English
- Ibuprofen has both analgesic and antipyretic effects.
- The doctor recommended an antipyretic agent for the child's high temperature.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical company contexts (e.g., 'our antipyretic product line').
Academic
Common in medical, pharmacological, and biological texts discussing disease symptoms and treatments.
Everyday
Very rare. Laypeople typically say 'fever reducer' or 'something for the fever'.
Technical
Standard term in medicine, pharmacy, and related healthcare fields to classify drugs or describe effects.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antipyretic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antipyretic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antipyretic”
- Incorrect: 'He took an antipyretic for his headache.' (While some antipyretics are also analgesics, the word specifies fever-reduction. Correct use requires a fever context.)
- Spelling: Confusing '-pyr-' with '-pair-' or '-pyre-'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While some drugs (like ibuprofen) are both, 'antipyretic' specifically means 'fever-reducing'. A painkiller (analgesic) may not reduce fever.
An antipyretic treats a symptom (fever). An antibiotic treats bacterial infections. They are completely different classes of drugs.
It would sound very technical. In everyday speech, people say 'fever medicine', 'fever reducer', or use the drug name (e.g., 'take some paracetamol for the fever').
It can be both. As a noun: 'Administer an antipyretic.' As an adjective: 'It has antipyretic effects.' The adjective form is more common in technical writing.
A substance or drug that reduces fever.
Antipyretic is usually formal, medical/technical in register.
Antipyretic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌænti.paɪˈret.ɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.t̬i.paɪˈret̬.ɪk/ˌæn.taɪ.paɪˈret̬.ɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. This is a technical term not used idiomatically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANTI' (against) + 'PYRE' (from Greek 'pyr', fire/fever) + 'ETIC' (adjective suffix). It's against the fire/fever.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEVER IS FIRE / HEAT. An antipyretic 'fights the fire' of a fever.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is the word 'antipyretic' used most correctly?