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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

aspirin

ASP-rihn

Aspirin (noun) means a common over-the-counter medicine used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and lower inflammation; also used in low doses to help prevent heart attacks. Example: “He took an aspirin for his headache.”

noun
1
A common over-the-counter medicine used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and lower inflammation; also used in low doses to help prevent heart attacks.
"He took an aspirin for his headache."
"Doctors sometimes recommend low-dose aspirin for heart health."

How to use aspirin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA widely used painkiller and fever reducer, also taken in small doses to help the heart.

Common mistake

Capitalized "Aspirin" is still a registered trademark in some countries, though most English speakers use it as a common, lowercase word.

Word forms

aspirins plural

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Test yourself on “aspirin” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He took an _____ for his headache.

Etymology

Originally a German trademark, from a term meaning "acetylated spiraeic acid." The name later became a generic term for the drug in most countries.

Origin: German

Bayer Empirin acetylsalicylic acid

Related words

Rhymes for aspirin

See all rhymes for aspirin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “aspirin” mean?

The word “aspirin” means a common over-the-counter medicine used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and lower inflammation; also used in low doses to help prevent heart attacks. In plain terms, a widely used painkiller and fever reducer, also taken in small doses to help the heart.

How do you pronounce “aspirin”?

“Aspirin” is pronounced ASP-rihn (/ˈæsp(ɪ)ɹɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “aspirin” in a sentence?

Here is “aspirin” used in a sentence: “He took an aspirin for his headache.”

What part of speech is “aspirin”?

“Aspirin” is a noun.

Where does the word “aspirin” come from?

The word “aspirin” comes from German. Originally a German trademark, from a term meaning "acetylated spiraeic acid." The name later became a generic term for the drug in most countries.

Is “aspirin” a common word?

“Aspirin” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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