galactagogue

ga·lac·ta·gogue
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US/ɡəˈlæk.tə.ɡɑɡ/UK/ɡəˈlæk.tə.ɡɒɡ/

noun

A substance that induces lactation.

Scrabble 17

Meanings

noungalactagogue (plural galactagogues)

plural galactagogues

  1. A substance that induces lactation.

    It is estimated that at least 15% of breastfeeding women use herbal galactagogues at some point (The National Children′s Study, 2003).

    2011, Marsha Walker, Breastfeeding Management for the Clinician: Using the Evidence, page 592
    2 more examples

    Galactagogues are agents that promote milk production, such as drugs, herbs, or foods.[…]Domperidone, though not commercially available in the United States, is used as a galactagogue in other countries.

    2005, Jan Riordan, Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, 3rd edition, page 303

    The safety of dopamine antagonists has not been adequately studied when used as galactagogues, but all have potential safety concerns for mothers, infants, or both. Fenugreek is an herbal product that is frequently used as a galactagogue, although no scientific evidence exists on its use for this purpose.

    2009, Gerald G. Briggs, Michael P. Nageotte, Diseases, Complications, and Drug Therapy in Obstetrics: A Guide for Clinicians, page 44

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekγάλακτος
  2. Englishgalactagogue

From Ancient Greek γάλακτος (gálaktos) (genitive of γάλα (gála, “milk”)) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 催奶劑 /催奶剂
  • 催奶劑 /催奶剂 (cuīnǎi-jì)substance that induces lactation
French galactagogue
  • galactagoguesubstance that induces lactation
German Galaktagogum
  • Galaktagogumsubstance that induces lactation
Italian galattagogo
  • galattagogosubstance that induces lactation
Japanese 催乳薬
  • 催乳薬 (sainyūyaku)substance that induces lactation
Korean 최유제
  • 최유제 (choeyuje)substance that induces lactation
Spanish galactagoga, galactogoga
  • galactagogasubstance that induces lactation
  • galactogogasubstance that induces lactation
Welsh blithogydd
  • blithogyddsubstance that induces lactation
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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