ganciclovir

G2A1N1C3I1C3L1O1V4I1R1
UK/ɡanˈsʌɪ.klə(ʊ)ˌvɪə/US/ɡænˈsaɪ.kloʊˌvɪɹ/

noun

An antiviral medication C₉H₁₃N₅O₄ related to acyclovir and used especially to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus retinitis in immunocompromised individuals.

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Meanings

nounganciclovir (uncountable)

alternative gancyclovir

  1. uncountablemedicineAn antiviral medication C₉H₁₃N₅O₄ related to acyclovir and used especially to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus retinitis in immunocompromised individuals.

    A significant number of AIDS patients are unable to tolerate ganciclovir treatments because of adverse effects it can have on production of critical blood cells.

    1991 December 22, Jacob Smith Yang, “Activists Fight Drug Profiteering”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 23, page 3

Origin

From g(u)an(osine) + -ciclovir (“bicyclic heterocycle compound”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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