noun
fentanyl
FEHN-tuh-nihl
Fentanyl (noun) means a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, far stronger than morphine, used medically but also widely abused and linked to overdose deaths. Example: “The hospital uses fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain.”
noun
1
A powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, far stronger than morphine, used medically but also widely abused and linked to overdose deaths.
"The hospital uses fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain."
"Illicit fentanyl mixed into other drugs has driven a sharp rise in overdose deaths."
How to use fentanyl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very potent opioid drug, legitimately used in medicine but notorious for its role in the overdose crisis when sold illegally.
When to use it
Frequently appears in both medical and news/public-health contexts.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like fentanyl.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- fentanyls
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hospital uses _____ patches for severe chronic pain.
Etymology
A coined pharmaceutical name built from "phenethyl" and "anilide," reflecting its chemical structure.
Synonyms
View more →
Sublimaze
Frequently asked questions
What does “fentanyl” mean?
The word “fentanyl” means a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, far stronger than morphine, used medically but also widely abused and linked to overdose deaths. In plain terms, a very potent opioid drug, legitimately used in medicine but notorious for its role in the overdose crisis when sold illegally.
How do you pronounce “fentanyl”?
“Fentanyl” is pronounced FEHN-tuh-nihl (/ˈfɛn.tə.nɑl/ in IPA).
How do you use “fentanyl” in a sentence?
Here is “fentanyl” used in a sentence: “The hospital uses fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain.”
What part of speech is “fentanyl”?
“Fentanyl” is a noun.
