inhibitor

noun

in·​hib·​i·​tor in-ˈhi-bə-tər 

: one that inhibits: such as

a

: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical action

b

: a substance that reduces or suppresses the activity of another substance (such as an enzyme)

Examples of inhibitor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Looking Ahead Ovarian tumors have proven tough opponents, standing their ground against cutting-edge immunotherapies like CAR T therapy and checkpoint inhibitors. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Mice engineered to lack key immune genes didn’t show such a dramatic ramp up in red blood cells during pregnancy, and nor did animals treated with drugs known as reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which block the enzyme retrotransposons use to copy and paste themselves. —Bycatherine Offord, science.org, 24 Oct. 2024

Certain medications—like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are used to treat common conditions like chronic heartburn, and diuretics, which help prevent fluid build-up—can also contribute to magnesium loss, research has shown. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2024

Duloxetine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is prescribed for anxiety and depression, and can also be used to treat nerve pain for people with diabetes, the Mayo Clinic notes. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing inhibitor

• ACE inhibitor
• protease inhibitor
• proton pump inhibitor
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Medical Definition

inhibitor

noun

in·​hib·​i·​tor in-ˈhib-ət-ər 

: one that inhibits: as

a

: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical reaction

b

: a substance that reduces the activity of another substance (as an enzyme)

c

: a gene that checks the normal effect of another nonallelic gene when both are present