sulfathiazole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (C2+ specialist term)Technical/medical, historical
Quick answer
What does “sulfathiazole” mean?
A synthetic antibacterial drug derived from sulfonamide, historically used to treat bacterial infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic antibacterial drug derived from sulfonamide, historically used to treat bacterial infections.
A specific sulfonamide antibiotic, now largely obsolete in human medicine due to newer antibiotics and safety concerns, but sometimes still used in veterinary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'sulphathiazole' is the historical and preferred British variant, while 'sulfathiazole' is standard in American English. Both refer to the identical drug.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation; both spellings imply an outdated medical treatment.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, encountered only in specialized historical or veterinary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “sulfathiazole” in a Sentence
Patient was treated with sulfathiazole.Sulfathiazole is effective against certain bacteria.The use of sulfathiazole declined after the 1940s.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulfathiazole” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sulphathiazole treatment was standard in the 1930s.
American English
- Sulfathiazole resistance was noted in some strains.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Discussed in papers on the history of antibiotics or antimicrobial resistance.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in veterinary medicine or historical medical case reviews.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulfathiazole”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sulfathiazole”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulfathiazole”
- Misspelling as 'sulfathiozole' or 'sulphathiozole'.
- Using it as a general term for any antibiotic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is largely obsolete in human medicine due to the development of more effective and safer antibiotics, but it may have limited use in veterinary contexts.
There is no difference in the drug itself. 'Sulfathiazole' is the standard American spelling, while 'sulphathiazole' is the traditional British spelling.
It was one of the first synthetic antibacterial agents (sulfa drugs) used successfully on a large scale, paving the way for the antibiotic era in the 1930s and 1940s.
No, it is a prescription medication and is not commonly stocked in modern pharmacies for human use.
A synthetic antibacterial drug derived from sulfonamide, historically used to treat bacterial infections.
Sulfathiazole is usually technical/medical, historical in register.
Sulfathiazole: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlfəˈθaɪəzəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlfəˈθaɪəzoʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SULFA' (the drug class) + 'THIAZOLE' (the chemical ring structure).
Conceptual Metaphor
An archeological relic of medicine.
Practice
Quiz
Sulfathiazole is primarily classified as what?