hydrocortisone

H4Y4D2R1O1C3O1R1T1I1S1O1N1E1
UK/ˌhʌɪ.dɹə(ʊ)ˈkɔː.tɪ.zəʊn/US/ˌhaɪ.dɹoʊˈkɔɹ.tɪˌsoʊn/

noun

Name used for cortisol, a glucocorticoid steroid hormone, when used as a medication. Used to treat e.g. inflammation resulting from rheumatism and eczema.

Similar
cortisolHydrocortoneCortef
OriginEnglish cortisone ← German Keton ← French cholestéro →
Less commonScrabble 23
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Meanings

nounhydrocortisone (countable and uncountable, plural hydrocortisones)

plural hydrocortisones

  1. countableuncountablemedicineName used for cortisol, a glucocorticoid steroid hormone, when used as a medication. Used to treat e.g. inflammation resulting from rheumatism and eczema.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan adrenal-cortex hormone (trade names Hydrocortone or Cortef) that is active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism

Similar
cortisolHydrocortoneCortef
Broader
corticosteroidcorticoidadrenal cortical steroid
Also see
corticosterolcortisolhydrocortisol

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
  3. Proto-Hellenic*údōr
  4. Ancient Greekῡ̆̔́δωρ (hū̆́dōr)
  5. Ancient Greekῠ̔δρο- (hŭdro-)
  6. Englishhydro-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*(s)ker-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kert-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kort-ek-s
  10. Latincortex
  11. Englishcortico-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰelh₃-
  13. Proto-Hellenic*kʰolā́
  14. Ancient Greekχολή (kholḗ)
  15. Proto-Indo-European*ster-
  16. Ancient Greekστερεός (stereós)
  17. Frenchcholestérine
  18. Frenchcholestéro
  19. Englishcholesterol
  20. Englishsterol
  21. GermanKeton
  22. Englishketone
  23. Englishcorticosterone
  24. Englishcortisone
  25. Englishhydrocortisone

From hydro- + cortisone.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan hidrocortisona
  • hidrocortisonaTranslations
Finnish hydrokortisoni
  • hydrokortisoniTranslations
German Hydrokortison, Hydrocortison
  • HydrokortisonTranslations
  • HydrocortisonTranslations
Portuguese hidrocortisona
  • hidrocortisonaTranslations
Spanish hidrocortisona
  • hidrocortisonaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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