diethylstilbesterol

A form of diethylstilbestrol — A synthetic estrogen drug C₁₈H₂₀O₂ used formerly to prevent miscarriage or premature delivery in humans and to promote growth in livestock. The medical use of diethystilbestrol was discontinued in the U.S. during the early 1970s due to its association with serious side effects (such as reproductive tract abnormalities and increased rates of infertility) in offspring exposed to the drug while developing in the uterus. It is no longer commercially available in the U.S. and its use is currently limited to specially compounded formulations for veterinary care.

Similar
DESstilbesterol
Scrabble 28

Meanings

noundiethylstilbesterol (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of diethylstilbestrol.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounsynthetic nonsteroid with the properties of estrogen; formerly used to treat menstrual problems but was found to be associated with vaginal cancers in the daughters of women so treated during pregnancy

Similar
DESstilbesterol
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

diethylstilbesterol. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diethylstilbesterol

MLA

“diethylstilbesterol.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diethylstilbesterol. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diethylstilbesterol,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diethylstilbesterol.

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