mifepristone

noun

mi·​fep·​ris·​tone ˌmi-fə-ˈpri-ˌstōn 

mi-ˈfe-pri-ˌstōn

: a drug C₂₉H₃₅NO₂ taken orally to induce abortion especially early in pregnancy by blocking the body's use of progesterone

called also RU-486

Examples of mifepristone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As for the potential secretary of Health and Human Service, when Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana asked nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his plans for mifepristone, one of two drugs used to end pregnancies within 70 days, Kennedy said Trump asked him to study the safety of the pill. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

Several states, including Massachusetts, began stockpiling the drug after a federal court ruling in Texas blocked the FDA’s approval of mifepristone in April 2023. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2025

But a lawsuit intended to force the F.D.A. to sharply restrict mifepristone was recently revived after the Supreme Court turned away the case, saying the original plaintiffs lacked the standing to sue. —Pam Belluck, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Both Makary and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared plans to have the FDA review mifepristone data after usage spiked following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from amino + fe- (alteration of phen-) + pri- (alteration of prop-) + estradiol + -one

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mifepristone

• aldosterone
• anticyclone
• progesterone
• testosterone
• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone

Medical Definition

mifepristone

noun

mi·​fep·​ris·​tone ˌmi-fə-ˈpris-ˌtōn  mi-ˈfep-ri-ˌstōn 

: a drug C₂₉H₃₅NO₂ taken orally to induce abortion especially early in pregnancy by blocking the body's use of progesterone

called also RU-486