Definition

A medication that is used to prevent stomach ulcers and to induce abortions.

Example

The doctor prescribed misoprostol to help prevent gastric ulcers.

Conversation

Have you heard about misoprostol?

Yeah, I know it’s used for preventing stomach ulcers.

Right, but it’s also used in some medical procedures, isn't it?

Exactly, it's quite important in certain healthcare contexts.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Misoprostol is formed from "miso-" (from Greek "misos", meaning hatred) and "prostaglandin" (a group of lipids made at sites of tissue damage or infection that are involved in dealing with injury and illness). The word refers to a medication that is a synthetic prostaglandin analogue used to prevent stomach ulcers and induce labor, thus relating to its function in medical treatment rather than its etymological roots.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hatred' ('miso-') in the context of how misoprostol is used to counteract the negative effects of certain medical conditions, like ulcers.

Visually Confused Words