epinephrine

IPA/ˌepɪˈnefrɪn/
KK[ˌɛpɪnˈɛfrɪn]IPA/ˌepɪˈnefrɪn/

epinephrine — noun

1. a substance that your body naturally releases when you feel frightened, excited,

1.nounC1
Definition

a substance that your body naturally releases when you feel frightened, excited, or under pressure; it speeds up the heartbeat and gives you a sudden surge of energy. A synthetic version is given as a medical treatment for severe allergic reactions or to restart a stopped heart.

Example

When Yumi saw a snake ahead, epinephrine flooded her body and she ran off.

body releases epinephrine in response to a threat

Dr. Samir injected epinephrine into Adisa's leg after his allergic reaction to peanuts.

be injected with epinephrine for allergic reaction

Common collocations
  • release epinephrine
  • inject epinephrine
  • epinephrine injection
  • epinephrine pen
  • epinephrine auto-injector
  • rush of epinephrine
  • dose of epinephrine
Synonyms
  • adrenaline

    the common everyday name for the same hormone; 'adrenaline' is used more in casual speech, while 'epinephrine' is the medical term

Grammar Patterns

epinephrine + noun (as modifier)

release/produce/inject + epinephrine

a dose/rush/injection of + epinephrine

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, the word 'adrenaline' is more common than 'epinephrine', especially when talking about the natural rush of energy. 'Epinephrine' is the standard medical term used by doctors and in hospitals.

Common Mistakes

The doctor gave me an epinephrine.
The doctor gave me an epinephrine injection.
Epinephrine is a substance, not an object. Use a container word like 'injection', 'shot', or 'dose' to refer to a treatment.

Word family

  • adrenaline
    nounB2
  • adrenergic
    adjectiveC2
  • adrenal
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Epinephrine and adrenaline refer to the same chemical substance, but differ in register and usage. 'Epinephrine' is the standard medical and scientific term used in hospitals, prescriptions, and formal writing. 'Adrenaline' is the everyday name and appears far more often in casual speech, sports commentary, and literature describing excitement or fear. Norepinephrine is a related neurotransmitter and hormone that works alongside epinephrine in the 'fight-or-flight' response but primarily constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure rather than increasing heart rate. Cortisol is a different stress hormone released more slowly to help the body manage prolonged stress, whereas epinephrine acts within seconds. For example, a doctor would say 'Administer 0.3 mg of epinephrine' while a friend would say 'I felt a rush of adrenaline before the race.'

adrenalinenorepinephrine ↗cortisol ↗hormone ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • release of epinephrine
  • injection of epinephrine
  • rush of epinephrine

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Formed in English in the 1890s from Greek 'epi-' (upon, above) + 'nephros' (kidney) + '-ine' (chemical suffix). The name refers to the adrenal glands, which sit atop the kidneys and produce the hormone. The term was coined by the American pharmacologist John Jacob Abel.

First known use

1899

1899, in the meaning defined above