corticosteroid

C3O1R1T1I1C3O1S1T1E1R1O1I1D2
US/ˈkʰoɹɾɪko.steːɹoid/

noun

Any of a group of steroid hormones, secreted by the adrenal cortex, that are involved in a large range of physiological systems.

Similar
corticoidadrenal cortical steroid
OriginEnglish steroid ← Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos) ← Proto-Hellenic *wéidos →
Less commonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nouncorticosteroid (plural corticosteroids)

plural corticosteroids

  1. steroidsbiochemistryAny of a group of steroid hormones, secreted by the adrenal cortex, that are involved in a large range of physiological systems.
  2. biochemistryAny of several synthetic hormones of related structure.

    Wúràọlá’s first patient was a man who had not noticed any significant improvement after a regimen of corticosteroids had been prescribed for his spondylosis.

    2023, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, A Spell of Good Things, Canongate Books, page 209

Synonyms & antonyms

Broader
corticoidhormonesteroid
Narrower
glucocorticoidmineralocorticoid

nouna steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex or synthesized; administered as drugs they reduce swelling and decrease the body's immune response

Similar
corticoidadrenal cortical steroid
Broader
steroid hormonesteroidsex hormone
Also see
corticoid

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)ker-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kert-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kort-ek-s
  4. Latincortex
  5. Englishcortico-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰelh₃-
  7. Proto-Hellenic*kʰolā́
  8. Ancient Greekχολή (kholḗ)
  9. Proto-Indo-European*ster-
  10. Ancient Greekστερεός (stereós)
  11. Frenchcholestérine
  12. Frenchcholestéro
  13. Englishcholesterol
  14. Englishsterol
  15. Proto-Indo-European*weyd-
  16. Proto-Indo-European*wéydos
  17. Proto-Hellenic*wéidos
  18. Ancient Greekεἶδος (eîdos)
  19. Englishsteroid
  20. Englishcorticosteroid

From cortico- + steroid.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan corticosteroide
  • corticosteroidecorticosteroid
Chinese Mandarin 皮質類固醇 /皮质类固醇
  • 皮質類固醇 /皮质类固醇 (pízhì lèigùchún)corticosteroid
Czech kortikosteroid
  • kortikosteroidcorticosteroid
Finnish kortikosteroidi
  • kortikosteroidicorticosteroid
French corticostéroïde
  • corticostéroïdecorticosteroid
Icelandic barksteri
  • barkstericorticosteroid
Italian corticosteroide
  • corticosteroidecorticosteroid
Spanish corticosteroide
  • corticosteroidecorticosteroid
Cite this entry
APA

corticosteroid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corticosteroid

MLA

“corticosteroid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corticosteroid. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “corticosteroid,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corticosteroid.

Source: corticosteroid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.