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

Women on Web, one of the websites that Mayall recommended, offers combinations of mifepristone and misoprostol for between 70 and 90 euros, depending on the patient’s location. —Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

But antiabortion activists are already circulating names of staunch antiabortion advocates to run a Trump Food and Drug Administration, which could unilaterally reinstitute restrictions on mifepristone, our colleague Caroline Kitchener writes. —Mckenzie Beard, Washington Post, 28 June 2024

The court's ruling means mifepristone will remain available under preexisting conditions, which include allowing women to receive the medication by mail and without any in person dispensation requirement. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 13 June 2024

Nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States are medically induced with a regimen that includes mifepristone. —Maggie Astor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2024

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

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