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

This means an intravenous shot of fluids and vitamins. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025

For instance, the 2022 intravenous contrast shortage — triggered by China’s COVID-19 lockdowns slashing iodinated contrast media exports — left U.S. hospitals scrambling, delaying scans and in some cases treatments. —Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

While children treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics usually recover within two weeks, adults may be harder to treat and are far more likely to develop serious complications, including death.1 Causes of SSSS SSSS is a complication of a staph infection. —William Truswell, Verywell Health, 28 Feb. 2025

She was given intravenous medicine to treat her severe headache, then once again discharged with a plan to see her primary care provider. —Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1849, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing intravenous

• intravenous immune globulin
• intravenous immunoglobulin

Rhymes for intravenous

• salvelinus
• arteriovenous
• cleanness
• freeness
• genus
• minas
• penis
• venous
• venus
• dominus
• fraxinus
• lupinus

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