English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun C2 Proficient Uncommon

antidote

AN-tih-doht

Antidote (noun) means a substance that counteracts the effects of a poison. Example: “Doctors administered the antidote within an hour of the snakebite.”

noun
1
A substance that counteracts the effects of a poison.
"Doctors administered the antidote within an hour of the snakebite."
2
Anything that counteracts or relieves something unpleasant or harmful.
"A quiet walk in the park is her usual antidote to a stressful week."

How to use antidote

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that cancels out or cures a poison, or more generally, a fix for something bad.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
antidote to poison antidote for stress

Word forms

antidoted past tense, antidotes plural, antidotes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “antidote” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Doctors administered the _____ within an hour of the snakebite.

Etymology

From Greek antidoton, "given against" — a clipped form of a phrase meaning "medicine given as a countermeasure."

Origin: Greek

Related words

Rhymes for antidote

See all rhymes for antidote →

Frequently asked questions

What does “antidote” mean?

The word “antidote” means a substance that counteracts the effects of a poison. In plain terms, something that cancels out or cures a poison, or more generally, a fix for something bad.

How do you pronounce “antidote”?

“Antidote” is pronounced AN-tih-doht (/ˈæn.tɪ.doʊt/ in IPA).

How do you use “antidote” in a sentence?

Here is “antidote” used in a sentence: “Doctors administered the antidote within an hour of the snakebite.”

What part of speech is “antidote”?

“Antidote” is a noun.

Where does the word “antidote” come from?

The word “antidote” comes from Greek. From Greek antidoton, "given against" — a clipped form of a phrase meaning "medicine given as a countermeasure.".

Is “antidote” a common word?

“Antidote” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “antidote” have?

“Antidote” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance that counteracts the effects of a poison.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial