diuretic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical, Medical, Academic, Formal
Quick answer
What does “diuretic” mean?
A substance (medication, food, or drink) that increases urine production, causing more frequent urination.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substance (medication, food, or drink) that increases urine production, causing more frequent urination.
Pertaining to or having the quality of promoting urination; also used figuratively in economics/biology to describe something that removes or 'flushes out' excess (e.g., capital).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral medical term in both varieties. No regional connotations.
Frequency
Similar frequency in medical/technical contexts. Slightly more common in US media due to higher prevalence of advertising for prescription medications.
Grammar
How to Use “diuretic” in a Sentence
[Subj: drug/substance] acts as a diuretic[Subj: doctor] prescribed (patient) a diuretic for [condition]have/experience a diuretic effectVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “diuretic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb form. Periphrastic: 'The medication works to diurese the patient.' is highly technical/rare.
American English
- No standard verb form. Periphrastic: 'The treatment is intended to promote diuresis.'
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- Coffee has a mild diuretic property.
- The doctor noted its diuretic action.
American English
- The new drug showed a powerful diuretic effect.
- They studied various diuretic herbs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; possibly in pharmaceutical industry reports.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and pharmacological research.
Everyday
Limited; used when discussing specific medical treatments for hypertension, edema, or heart failure.
Technical
Core term in medicine, physiology, pharmacology, and nutrition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “diuretic”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “diuretic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “diuretic”
- Mispronunciation: /daɪˈuːrɛtɪk/ (missing the schwa/j sound).
- Using as a verb: 'This teas diuretics me.' (Incorrect; it's not standardly used as a verb.)
- Confusing with 'diarrhetic' (causing diarrhea).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, but with habitual consumption, tolerance develops, and the effect diminishes for most people.
A diuretic increases urine output by the kidneys. A laxative stimulates bowel movements. They affect different bodily systems.
No, 'diuretic' is standardly a noun or adjective. The related verb is 'diurese', but it is highly technical and rare. The process is called 'diuresis'.
No. While many potent diuretics (like furosemide) are prescription-only, some foods and drinks (e.g., coffee, parsley, dandelion tea) have mild natural diuretic properties.
A substance (medication, food, or drink) that increases urine production, causing more frequent urination.
Diuretic is usually technical, medical, academic, formal in register.
Diuretic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪ.jʊˈret.ɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪ.jəˈret̬.ɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIE-you-would-RUN-to-the-etic(k) (toilet)' – something that makes you produce urine and run to the toilet.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLUSHING / DRAINING: A diuretic is conceptualised as an agent that flushes out or drains excess fluid from the body's system.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'diuretic' MOST appropriately used?