intravenous

adjective

in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs 

: situated, performed, or occurring within or entering by way of a vein

also : used in or using intravenous procedures

intravenously adverb

Examples of intravenous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Health Care The Big Story IV fluid expiration dates extended Federal regulators have approved a change to the expiration dates for multiple types of intravenous (IV) and sterile fluids made at a key manufacturing plant recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene. —Joseph Choi, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2024

Patients with severe illness often need to be hospitalized and receive additional supportive treatments, such as intravenous fluids. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2024

The first of these is stabilization and supportive therapies, which might include intubation, intravenous fluids, and intensive care for people with extremely high vitamin D and calcium levels. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024

And, while almost all the patients surveyed received at least one dose of an intravenous opioid, Black patients were 74% more likely than white patients to receive oral and IV opioids, which isn’t ideal, given their high potential for addiction. —New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1849, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing intravenous

• intravenous immune globulin
• intravenous immunoglobulin

Kids Definition

intravenous

adjective

in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs 

: being within or entering by way of the veins

intravenous feeding

intravenously adverb

Medical Definition

intravenous

adjective

in·​tra·​ve·​nous ˌin-trə-ˈvē-nəs 

1

: situated within, performed within, occurring within, or administered by entering a vein

an intravenous feeding

intravenous inflammation

2

: used in intravenous procedures

intravenous needles

an intravenous solution

intravenously adverb