prodrug

P3R1O1D2R1U1G2
UK/ˈpɹəʊ.dɹʌɡ/US/ˈpɹoʊ.dɹʌɡ/UK/pɹəʊˈdɹʌɡ/US/pɹoʊˈdɹʌɡ/

noun

A drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound.

OriginEnglish drug ← Ancient Greek πρό (pró) ← Proto-Indo-European *pró →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

prodrug1

nounprodrug (plural prodrugs)

plural prodrugs

  1. medicineA drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound.

prodrug2

adjectiveprodrug (comparative more prodrug, superlative most prodrug)

comparative more prodrug · superlative most prodrug

  1. In favour of recreational drugs.

    In France, the antidrug law forbids all forms of prodrug propaganda.

    1972, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws, World Drug Traffic and Its Impact on U.S. Security: The hashish trail

Origin

prodrug · noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
  5. Englishpro-
  6. Englishdrug
  7. Englishprodrug

From pro- (“precursor”) + drug.

Full word history & related roots →

prodrug · adjective

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Proto-Italic*prō
  5. Latinprō
  6. Englishpro-
  7. Englishdrug
  8. Englishprodrug

From pro- (“favouring”) + drug.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 前體藥物 /前体药物, 前藥 /前药
  • 前體藥物 /前体药物 (qiántǐ yàowù)drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • 前藥 /前药 (qiányào)drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • 前驅藥 /前驱药 (qiánqūyào)drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
Hungarian prodrug, előanyag
  • prodrugdrug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • előanyagdrug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • gyógyszer-előanyagdrug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • előgyógyszerdrug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • prodrogdrug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
Italian profarmaco
  • profarmacodrug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
Japanese プロドラッグ
  • プロドラッグ (purodoraggu)drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
Korean 프로드러그, 전구약물
  • 프로드러그 (peurodeureogeu)drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
  • 전구약물 (jeon'guyangmul)drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
Cite this entry
APA

prodrug. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prodrug

MLA

“prodrug.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prodrug. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prodrug,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prodrug.

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