dexamethasone

From dex- +‎ -a- +‎ -methasone (“prednisone or prednisolone derivative”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌdɛk.səˈmɛθ.ə.səʊn/, /ˌdɛk.səˈmɛθ.ə.zəʊn/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌdɛk.səˈmɛθ.əˌsoʊn/, /ˌdɛk.səˈmɛθ.əˌzoʊn/

dexamethasone (countable and uncountable, plural dexamethasones)

1. (pharmacology, biochemistry) A synthetic member of the glucocorticoid-class of steroid hormones, having the chemical formula C₂₂H₂₉FO₅, and used especially as an anti-inflammatory agent.

   Many dexamethasones act as anti-inflammatory agents.

   • 2019, Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift, Hogarth, page 245:

     Lee showed her how to feed the baby with the dexamethasone syrup.

   • 2021 March 23, Natalie Grover, Denis Campbell, “Dexamethasone hailed as lifesaver for up to a million Covid patients worldwide”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     Dexamethasone, a widely available and affordable generic steroid, was shown to cut the risk of death by a third for Covid patients on ventilators, and by nearly a fifth for those on oxygen therapy.

(brand name medicine tradenames)

• “dexamethasone”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “dexamethasone”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.