Standard Lemma guide

sildenafil

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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  • /sɪlˈdɛn.ə.fɪl/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A drug that is used in the form of its citrate C22H30N6O4S·C6H8O7 to treat erectile dysfunction in males, that by suppressing a phosphodiesterase enzyme also suppresses the enzyme's inhibitory effect on the hormone cyclic GMP, and that enables the cyclic GMP produced during sexual arousal to initiate the muscular and vascular changes which produce an erection. It is marketed under the trademarks Revatio and Viagra.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: medicine, pharmacology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

virility drug (trade name Viagra) used to treat erectile dysfunction in men

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sildenafil citrate, Viagra

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: virility drug, anti-impotence drug

History

Etymology

Probably from s(ulfon)yl + -dena- (“alteration of (pyrimi)dine”) + ph(en)yl.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 西地那非 (xīdìnàfēi) — Translations
  • Finnish: sildenafiili — Translations
  • Greek: σιλδεναφίλη (sildenafíli) — Translations
  • Turkish: sildenafil — Translations