chloramphenicol

noun

chlor·​am·​phen·​i·​col ˌklȯr-ˌam-ˈfe-ni-ˌkȯl How to pronounce chloramphenicol (audio)
-ˌkōl
: a broad-spectrum antibiotic C11H12Cl2N2O5 isolated from cultures of a soil actinomycete (Streptomyces venezuelae) or prepared synthetically

Examples of chloramphenicol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Olivers took to Facebook to tell their friends about Ike’s worsening condition, and they were then contacted by a stranger who advised them to try chloramphenicol – an antibiotic used as an eye ointment to treat human conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2023 The antibiotics facing export limits are tinidazole, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, erythromycin salts, neomycin, clindamycin salts and ornidazole. Vindu Goel, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020 This Spanish outbreak, though, had a different cause, the importation of the cfr gene, which also mediates resistance to the older drugs clindamycin and chloramphenicol, apparently on a plasmid, possibly from a staph strain common in cows. Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 15 June 2010

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chloramphenicol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

chlor- + amide + phen- + nitr- + glycol

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chloramphenicol was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near chloramphenicol

Cite this Entry

“Chloramphenicol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chloramphenicol. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

chloramphenicol

noun
chlor·​am·​phen·​i·​col ˌklōr-ˌam-ˈfen-i-ˌkȯl, ˌklȯr-, -ˌkōl How to pronounce chloramphenicol (audio)
: a broad-spectrum antibiotic C11H12Cl2N2O5 isolated from cultures of a soil actinomycete of the genus Streptomyces (S. venezuelae) or prepared synthetically

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