nonoxynol-9

noun

no·nox·y·nol-9 nä-ˈnäk-si-ˌnȯl-ˈnīn

nə-,

-ˌnōl-

: a spermicide used in contraceptive products

Word History

Etymology

nonyl (the radical C₉H₁₉) + oxy- + phenol + 9 (from the fact that the compounds it contains have an average of nine ethylene oxide groups per molecule)

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of nonoxynol-9 was in 1967

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

nonoxidizing

nonoxynol-9

nonpaid

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nonoxynol-9.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonoxynol-9. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

nonoxynol-9

noun

no·nox·y·nol-9 nä-ˈnäk-sə-ˌnōl-ˈnīn

-ˌnȯl-

: a spermicide used in contraceptive products that consists of a mixture of compounds having the general formula C₁₅H₂₃(OCH₂CH₂)_nOH with an average of nine ethylene oxide groups per molecule

Popular in Grammar & Usage

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Popular Features

nonoxynol-9

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

vernal