sulfamethoxazole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “sulfamethoxazole” mean?
A synthetic antibiotic belonging to the sulfonamide class, used primarily to treat or prevent bacterial infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic antibiotic belonging to the sulfonamide class, used primarily to treat or prevent bacterial infections.
A bacteriostatic antibiotic that inhibits bacterial synthesis of folic acid; often used in combination with trimethoprim (as co-trimoxazole) to treat urinary tract infections, bronchitis, and certain types of pneumonia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'sulphamethoxazole' is standard in British English, while 'sulfamethoxazole' is standard in American English. The British spelling follows the 'ph' convention for words derived from sulphur.
Connotations
Identical. Purely technical with no cultural or connotative differences.
Frequency
Frequency is equally low in both varieties, confined strictly to medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sulfamethoxazole” in a Sentence
[Patient] was prescribed sulfamethoxazole for [infection].[Doctor] recommended a course of sulfamethoxazole.The [bacteria] showed resistance to sulfamethoxazole.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulfamethoxazole” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The sulphamethoxazole component is effective.
- Sulphamethoxazole-resistant strains are emerging.
American English
- The sulfamethoxazole component is effective.
- Sulfamethoxazole-resistant strains are emerging.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used only in pharmaceutical manufacturing, marketing, and regulatory documents.
Academic
Used in medical, pharmacological, and microbiological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A patient might say "my antibiotic" or refer to a brand name like Bactrim/Septrin.
Technical
The primary context. Used in diagnosis, treatment protocols, prescription writing, and clinical discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulfamethoxazole”
- Misspelling: sulfamethoxazole (AmE) vs. sulphamethoxazole (BrE).
- Mispronunciation: stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., SUL-fa-me-thox-a-zole).
- Using it in non-medical contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it is a key component. Bactrim (US) and Septrin (UK) are brand names for the combination drug containing both sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
It is primarily used, in combination with trimethoprim, to treat bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), bronchitis, traveler's diarrhea, and certain types of pneumonia.
The spelling follows regional conventions for the element 'sulfur' (AmE) vs. 'sulphur' (BrE). 'Sulfamethoxazole' is American English; 'sulphamethoxazole' is British English.
It is highly unusual and technical. In everyday talk, people refer to the medication by its brand name (e.g., Bactrim) or simply as 'an antibiotic'.
A synthetic antibiotic belonging to the sulfonamide class, used primarily to treat or prevent bacterial infections.
Sulfamethoxazole is usually technical/medical in register.
Sulfamethoxazole: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlfəmɛθˈɒksəzəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlfəmɛθˈɑːksəzoʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the parts: SULFA (like the drug class) + METH (like methane/methyl group) + OX (oxygen) + AZO (nitrogen compound) + OLE (chemical suffix). "The SULFA drug with METH and OXYgen fights AZOle bacteria."
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A. The word is a technical label, not conceptual.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'sulfamethoxazole'?