sulfadimidine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Veterinary
Quick answer
What does “sulfadimidine” mean?
A synthetic antibiotic drug of the sulfonamide class, used primarily in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic antibiotic drug of the sulfonamide class, used primarily in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections.
A specific sulfonamide compound that inhibits bacterial growth by interfering with the synthesis of folic acid. Its use is now largely historical or limited to specific veterinary contexts, having been superseded by newer antibiotics in human medicine.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences exist, as it is a technical pharmaceutical term. The spelling follows standard chemical nomenclature rules in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical, no emotional connotations. May imply outdated or veterinary-specific treatment in a medical context.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US English, confined to veterinary pharmacology, historical medical texts, or specialized chemistry.
Grammar
How to Use “sulfadimidine” in a Sentence
The veterinarian prescribed sulfadimidine for the calf.Sulfadimidine is administered orally.Treatment involves sulfadimidine.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulfadimidine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sulfadimidine therapy was effective.
- A sulfadimidine-resistant strain emerged.
American English
- The sulfadimidine treatment was successful.
- A sulfadimidine-based protocol was followed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used only in pharmaceutical industry contexts regarding drug manufacture or veterinary product portfolios.
Academic
Appears in pharmacology, veterinary science, and historical medicine papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in veterinary protocols, drug data sheets, and chemical literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulfadimidine”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulfadimidine”
- Misspelling as 'sulphadimidine' (though 'sulph-' is an older UK variant, the standard chemical spelling is 'sulf-').
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing 'dim' (/dɪm/) instead of 'dime' (/daɪm/).
- Assuming it is a current, first-line human antibiotic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was used historically, but its use in human medicine is now extremely rare, having been largely replaced by newer, more targeted antibiotics with fewer side effects.
As a sulfonamide, it acts as a competitive antagonist of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), inhibiting the bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid, a precursor for nucleic acids.
It is most commonly administered orally, often mixed in drinking water or feed for livestock, or given as tablets or powder for individual animals.
It is a highly technical term for a specific drug within a class whose prominence has declined. Its usage is confined to specialized professional and academic contexts, not general English.
A synthetic antibiotic drug of the sulfonamide class, used primarily in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections.
Sulfadimidine is usually technical / veterinary in register.
Sulfadimidine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌl.fəˈdaɪ.mɪ.diːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌl.fəˈdaɪ.mɪ.diːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SULFA (the drug class) + DI (as in 'die' for microbes) + MID (middle of treatment) + INE (common drug suffix). A 'sulfa' drug aiming to 'die'-mid the infection.
Conceptual Metaphor
KEY IN LOCK: Sulfadimidine acts like a wrongly shaped key that jams the bacterial enzyme's 'lock', preventing it from making essential nutrients.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is sulfadimidine most commonly used today?