Meanings
nounpenicillamine (countable and uncountable, plural penicillamines)
plural penicillamines
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA crystalline, sulfur-containing amino acid produced by the hydrolysis of penicillins, used pharmacologically as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals such as copper from the body, and as an anti-inflammatory agent, especially for rheumatoid arthritis; 2-amino-3-methyl-3-mercaptobutanoic acid, (CH₃)₂C(SH)CH(NH₂)COOH.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna drug (trade name Cuprimine) used to treat heavy metal poisoning and Wilson's disease and severe arthritis
Similar
Cuprimine
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Blend of penicillin + amine.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Italian penicillamina
- penicillaminabreakdown product of penicillin
Spanish penicilamina
- penicilaminabreakdown product of penicillin
Cite this entry
APA
penicillamine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penicillamine
MLA
“penicillamine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penicillamine. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “penicillamine,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penicillamine.
Source: penicillamine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.