noun

nootropic

Nootropic (noun) means any substance purported to increase or enhance cognitive abilities.

noun

Any substance purported to increase or enhance cognitive abilities.

A drug that enhances learning and memory and lacks the usual pharmacology of other psychotropic drugs (e.g. sedation, motor stimulation) and possesses very few side effects and extremely low toxicity.

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

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

Etymology

Coined by Romanian psychologist and chemist Corneliu E. Giurgea in 1972, derived from the Ancient Greek words νόος (nóos, “mind”) and τροπέω (tropéō, “to turn”). By surface analysis, noo(s) + -tropic, literally “mind changing”.

Rhymes for nootropic

topic myopic tropic microscopic psychotropic philanthropic

See all rhymes for nootropic →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of nootropic?

"nootropic" (noun) means any substance purported to increase or enhance cognitive abilities.

What are the different meanings of nootropic?

"nootropic" has 2 main meanings: 1. Any substance purported to increase or enhance cognitive abilities; 2. A drug that enhances learning and memory and lacks the usual pharmacology of other psychotropic drugs (e.g. sedation, motor stimulation) and possesses very few side effects and extremely low toxicity.