pilocarpine

noun

pi·​lo·​car·​pine ˌpī-lə-ˈkär-ˌpēn How to pronounce pilocarpine (audio)
: a miotic alkaloid C11H16N2O2 obtained from jaborandi that is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride or nitrate especially in the treatment of glaucoma

Examples of pilocarpine 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.
David Guyton, an ophthalmologist at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, points out that while generic pilocarpine is inexpensive as a glaucoma treatment, a 2.5-milliliter container of Vuity—roughly a month’s supply—is not. — Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 15 Feb. 2022 The active ingredient, pilocarpine, is one of a class of drugs called miotics, which pose some risk of retinal detachment (although no one had that problem in the clinical trials, says Dr. Chu). — Steven Odierna As Told To Stephanie Dolgoff, Good Housekeeping, 9 Mar. 2022

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin Pilocarpus jaborandi, species of tropical shrubs

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pilocarpine was in 1875

Rhymes for pilocarpine

See All Rhymes for pilocarpine

Browse Nearby Words

Pilobolus
pilocarpine
pilocystic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pilocarpine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilocarpine. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

pilocarpine

noun
pi·​lo·​car·​pine ˌpī-lə-ˈkär-ˌpēn How to pronounce pilocarpine (audio)
: a miotic muscarinic alkaloid that is obtained from jaborandi and is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride C11H16N2O2·HCl or nitrate C11H16N2O2·HNO3 especially in the treatment of glaucoma and xerostomia

More from Merriam-Webster on pilocarpine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pilocarpine

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

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

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

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

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
See More

Popular

See More

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

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All