hypotonic

adjective

hy·​po·​ton·​ic ˌhī-pə-ˈtä-nik 

-pō-

1

: having deficient tone or tension

hypotonic children

2

: having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison

hypotonic organisms

hypotonicity

ˌhī-pə-tə-ˈni-sə-tē 

-pō-

noun

Examples of hypotonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Less than two months after The Lancet publication, Latta performed the first therapeutic intravenous resuscitation in May of 1832 with infusions of a homemade solution, a watery hypotonic mix of sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate. —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2016

On Tuesday, the Real Housewives of Orange County alum, 36, recounted a heartbreaking story on Instagram involving her 3-year-old son Hart, who was diagnosed with hypotonic cerebral palsy last October. —Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 8 Sep. 2021

Back in October, the Real Housewives of Orange County alum, 36, revealed that her son Hart, who turns 3 next month, was diagnosed with hypotonic cerebral palsy. —Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 26 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

hypotonic

adjective

hy·​po·​ton·​ic ˌhī-pə-ˈtän-ik, -pō- 

1

: having deficient tone or tension

hypotonic children

2

: having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison

a hypotonic solution

compare hypertonic sense 2, isotonic sense 1

hypotonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb