ivermectin

noun

iver·​mec·​tin ˌī-vər-ˈmek-tən 

: a drug mixture of two structurally similar semisynthetic lactones that is used in veterinary medicine as an anthelmintic, acaricide, and insecticide and in human medicine to treat onchocerciasis

Examples of ivermectin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After a two-day course of ivermectin, the teen's rash cleared up. —Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025

One leading member of the journal’s editorial board, a stubborn advocate for using hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat COVID-19, has lost five papers to retraction. —Adam Marcus, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025

In the petition, the group advocated for other treatments instead of vaccines, including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, despite them having already been deemed ineffective. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

The chief medical adviser for Warrior Essentials, Dr. George Fareed, is a senior fellow at the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, a group that promotes disproven treatments for Covid like the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from di- + New Latin avermitilis (specific epithet of Streptomyces avermitilis, bacterium from which it is derived) + English -ect- (of unknown origin) + -in entry 1

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ivermectin

• fibronectin
• amylopectin
• lectin
• pecten
• pectin
• selectin

Medical Definition

ivermectin

noun

iver·​mec·​tin ˌī-vər-ˈmek-tən 

: a drug mixture of two structurally similar semisynthetic macrocyclic lactones that is a derivative of avermectin used in veterinary medicine as an anthelmintic, acaricide, and insecticide and in human medicine to treat onchocerciasis