propofol

English

Chemical structure of propofol

Etymology

From contraction of (diiso)prop(yl)ph(en)ol +‎ -o-.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹəʊ.pəf.ɒl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹoʊ.pəˌfoʊl/

Noun

propofol (countable and uncountable, plural propofols)

1. (pharmacology) A sedating and hypnotic agent C₁₂H₁₈O administered intravenously to induce and maintain anesthesia or sedation.

   Synonym: milk of amnesia (medical slang, humorous)

   • 2012, Randall Sullivan, Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson‎^[1], Grove/Atlantic, Inc., →ISBN:

     The more likely scenario, the medical examiner testified, was that Dr. Murray had mistakenly administered a much larger dose of propofol than he realized, one that was lethal to his patient.

References

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