prednisone

P3R1E1D2N1I1S1O1N1E1
UK/ˈpɹɛd.nɪ.zəʊn/US/ˈpɹɛd.nɪˌsoʊn/

noun

A glucocorticoid C₂₁H₂₆O₅ that is a dehydrogenated analog of cortisone, used to relieve rheumatic and allergic conditions and to treat leukemia.

Similar
OrasoneDeltasoneLiquid PredMeticorten
OriginEnglish (cort)isone ← German Keton ← French cholestéro →
Less commonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nounprednisone (countable and uncountable, plural prednisones)

plural prednisones

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA glucocorticoid C₂₁H₂₆O₅ that is a dehydrogenated analog of cortisone, used to relieve rheumatic and allergic conditions and to treat leukemia.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna dehydrogenated analogue of cortisol (trade names Orasone or Deltasone or Liquid Pred or Meticorten); used as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of arthritis and as an immunosuppressant

Similar
OrasoneDeltasoneLiquid PredMeticorten
Broader
glucocorticoidanti-inflammatoryanti-inflammatory drug

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinpraegnāns
  2. Englishpre(gnane)
  3. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  4. Proto-Indo-European*dwi-
  5. Proto-Hellenic*dwi-
  6. Ancient Greekδῐ- (dĭ-)
  7. Latindi-
  8. Englishdi-
  9. Englishd(ie)ne
  10. Proto-Indo-European*(s)ker-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kert-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kort-ek-s
  13. Latincortex
  14. Englishcortico-
  15. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰelh₃-
  16. Proto-Hellenic*kʰolā́
  17. Ancient Greekχολή (kholḗ)
  18. Proto-Indo-European*ster-
  19. Ancient Greekστερεός (stereós)
  20. Frenchcholestérine
  21. Frenchcholestéro
  22. Englishcholesterol
  23. Englishsterol
  24. GermanKeton
  25. Englishketone
  26. Englishcorticosterone
  27. English(cort)isone
  28. Englishprednisone

From pre(gnane) + d(ie)ne + (cort)isone.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech prednison, prednizon
  • prednisonTranslations
  • prednizonTranslations
Finnish prednisoni
  • prednisoniTranslations
Portuguese prednisona
  • prednisonaTranslations
Turkish prednizon
  • prednizonTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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