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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌspʌɪ.ɹən.ə(ʊ)ˈlæk.təʊn/
General-American:/ˌspaɪ.ɹən.oʊˈlækˌtoʊn/
General-American:/spɪˌɹoʊ.nəˈlækˌtoʊn/
General-American:/ˌspɪɚ.ə.nəˈlæk.toʊn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -æktəʊn
1
noun
Meaning 1
A steroid drug which acts as an antimineralocorticoid (for which purpose it is used in the treatment of certain types of edema and hypertension) and an antiandrogen (for which purpose it is used as part of some types of hormone therapy, especially for transgender women).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: medicine, pharmacology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: spiro
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
a synthetic corticosteroid (trade name Aldactone) used to treat hypertension
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sper- Proto-Indo-European *sper-yeh2- Ancient Greek σπεῖρα (speîra)der. Latin spīra Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- English spiro- German Ketonbor. English ketone English -one ▲ English -o- Latin lacder. English lacto- ▲ English -one English lactone English spironolactone From spiro- + -one + -o- + lactone.
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
螺內酯 /螺内酯
(luónèizhǐ)
— Translations
