Meanings
plural ribavirins
- countableuncountablemedicineA synthetic analog of guanosine with chemical formula C₈H₁₂N₄O₅ that inhibits viral nucleic acid synthesis and is used as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug especially in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection and chronic hepatitis C.
1 more example
Due to the paucity of approved treatments, it should come as no surprise that thousands of PWAs/PWARCs have found it necessary to try some of the more widely available alternative treatments. These include DNCB (a compound applied topically that has been used for Kaposi's sarcoma), ribavirin (an anti-viral treatment) and isoprinosene (an immune enhancer).
1988 August 13, Miranda Kolbe, “A PWA Movement of Guerrilla Clinics”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 5, page 8
Synonyms & antonyms
nounan inhaled antiviral agent (trade name Virazole) that may be used to treat serious virus infections
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From rib(oside) + -a- + -vir- (“antiviral”) + -in.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
ribavirin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ribavirin
“ribavirin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ribavirin. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ribavirin,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ribavirin.
Source: ribavirin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.