barbiturate

noun

bar·​bi·​tu·​rate bär-ˈbi-chə-rət 

-ˌrāt;

ˌbär-bə-ˈtyu̇r-ət,

-ˈtu̇r-,

-ˌāt 

 nonstandard  bär-ˈbi-chə-wət

1

: a salt or ester of barbituric acid

2

: any of various derivatives of barbituric acid (such as phenobarbital) that are used especially as sedatives, hypnotics, and antispasmodics and are often addictive

Examples of barbiturate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Marshall Project also found that women were questioned over positive drug tests after hospitals gave them sedatives such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates. —Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

True: Judy Garland was hooked on barbiturates and amphetamines during filming. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024

At night, she was given barbiturates to help her sleep. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024

Next came Jimi Hendrix, a guitarist extraordinaire who overdosed on barbiturates in 1970. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

barbiturate

noun

bar·​bit·​u·​rate

bär-ˈbich-ə-rət,

-ˌrāt,

ˌbär-bə-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət,

-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌāt

: any of various drugs related to barbituric acid that are used especially to calm or to produce sleep and are often habit-forming

Medical Definition

barbiturate

noun

bar·​bi·​tu·​rate bär-ˈbich-ə-rət  -ˌrāt; ˌbär-bə-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət 

-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌāt

1

: a salt or ester of barbituric acid

2

: any of various derivatives of barbituric acid (as phenobarbital) that are used especially as sedatives, hypnotics, and antispasmodics and are often addictive