Standard Lemma guide

chloramphenicol

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌklɔː.ɹamˈfɛ.nɪ.kɒl/
  • General-American: /ˌklɔˌɹæmˈfɛ.nɪˌkɔl/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A broad-spectrum antibiotic C11H12Cl2N2O5 isolated from cultures of a soil actinomycete (Streptomyces venezuelae) or prepared synthetically and used against serious infections such as typhoid fever.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: medicine, pharmacology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an oral antibiotic (trade name Chloromycetin) used to treat serious infections (especially typhoid fever)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Chloromycetin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: antibiotic, antibiotic drug

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵhelh3- Proto-Hellenic *khlōrós Ancient Greek χλωρός (khlōrós) English chloro- English chlor- Egyptian jmnbor. Ancient Greek Ᾰ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)bor. Latin Ammōn Latin ammoniacusder. English ammonia Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idusder. English -ide English am(ide) Proto-Indo-European *bheh2-der. Proto-Hellenic *pháňňō Ancient Greek φαίνω (phaínō)der. ▲ Ancient Greek φαίνω (phaínō)der. French phéno- Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)der. French -yle French phénylebor. English phenyl Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- English pheno- English phen- Egyptian nṯr Proto-Afroasiatic *-i? Egyptian -j Egyptian nṯrjder. Semiticbor. Ancient Greek νῐ́τρον (nĭ́tron) English ni(tro)- Proto-Hellenic *dlukús Ancient Greek γλῠκῠ́ς (glŭkŭ́s) Akkadian 𒎎𒋆𒁉𒍣𒁕 (guḫlum)bor. Aramaic כוחלא (kuḥlā)bor. Arabic كُحْل (kuḥl) Andalusian Arabic اَلْكُحُول (al-kuḥūl)bor. Medieval Latin alcoholder. Middle English alcofol English alcohol English -ol English (gly)col English chloramphenicol From chlor- + am(ide) + phen- + ni(tro)- + (gly)col.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: chloramphénicol — antibiotic
  • Portuguese: cloranfenicol — antibiotic
  • Spanish: cloranfenicol — antibiotic