sulfonamide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “sulfonamide” mean?
A class of synthetic drugs derived from sulfanilamide, used as antibacterial agents to treat infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A class of synthetic drugs derived from sulfanilamide, used as antibacterial agents to treat infections.
Any compound that contains the sulfonamide group (-SO₂NH₂) or its derivatives, found in various therapeutic drugs including antibiotics, diuretics, and anticonvulsants.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'sulphonamide', American English uses 'sulfonamide'.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties—purely technical/medical.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American medical literature due to spelling convention, but concept is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “sulfonamide” in a Sentence
The patient was treated with a sulfonamide.Sulfonamides are effective against gram-positive bacteria.Resistance to sulfonamide has emerged.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulfonamide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sulphonamide treatment was discontinued due to an adverse reaction.
American English
- The sulfonamide therapy proved effective against the infection.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in pharmaceutical industry reports and drug development discussions.
Academic
Common in pharmacology, microbiology, and medical history texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in medical diagnostics, prescription, and research literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulfonamide”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulfonamide”
- Misspelling as 'sulphonamide' in American English contexts.
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'a sulfonamide' is correct).
- Confusing it with penicillin or other antibiotic classes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but less commonly as first-line antibiotics for systemic infections due to resistance and newer alternatives. They are still used for specific conditions like urinary tract infections, burn treatments (topically), and in combination therapies.
Allergic reactions, including skin rashes, are relatively common. More serious but rare side effects include Stevens-Johnson syndrome and blood disorders.
Sulfanilamide is the simplest, parent compound of the sulfonamide class. 'Sulfonamide' refers to the entire class of drugs derived from it.
In most medical contexts, yes. 'Sulfa drug' is a common informal synonym, though 'sulfonamide' is more precise in technical writing.
A class of synthetic drugs derived from sulfanilamide, used as antibacterial agents to treat infections.
Sulfonamide is usually technical / medical in register.
Sulfonamide: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlˈfɒn.ə.maɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlˈfɑː.nə.maɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SULFur-based ON AmIDE — a chemical group that fights germs.
Conceptual Metaphor
A KEY that blocks a bacterial lock (referring to competitive inhibition of folic acid synthesis).
Practice
Quiz
Sulfonamides work primarily by: