hypotonic

adjective

hy·​po·​ton·​ic ˌhī-pə-ˈtä-nik How to pronounce hypotonic (audio)
-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 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypotonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypotonic was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near hypotonic

Cite this Entry

“Hypotonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypotonic. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

hypotonic

adjective
hy·​po·​ton·​ic ˌhī-pə-ˈtän-ik, -pō- How to pronounce hypotonic (audio)
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 adverb
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