ethinyl estradiol

noun

: a very potent synthetic estrogen C20H24O2 used especially as an oral contraceptive

Examples of ethinyl estradiol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The combination of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol has been available since 1968 as a contraceptive. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 30 July 2024 Taytulla, also called ethinyl estradiol, gained Food and Drug Administration approval in 2013. Austen Hufford, WSJ, 29 May 2018 Tyler’s experiments looked at one type of synthetic estrogen: ethinyl estradiol, or EE2, which is found in oral contraceptives like TriNessa and Seasonique. Becky Little, Smithsonian, 31 July 2017 One environmental estrogen is ethinyl estradiol—a chemical found in birth control pills. National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethinyl estradiol was in 1938

Dictionary Entries Near ethinyl estradiol

Cite this Entry

“Ethinyl estradiol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethinyl%20estradiol. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

ethinyl estradiol

noun
variants or ethynylestradiol or chiefly British ethinyloestradiol or ethynyloestradiol
: a white crystalline very potent synthetic estrogen C20H24O2 prepared from estrone and used in combination (as with norgestrel or norethindrone) as a birth control pill or alone in the treatment of menopausal symptoms or female hypogonadism or in the palliative treatment of prostate or breast cancer see loestrin, minastrin, nuvaring, ortho evra, ortho-novum, ortho tri-cyclen, seasonale, seasonique, yasmin, yaz
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!