English Reference

Word

abortifacient

Phoneticsabor·ti·fa·cient

/əˌbɔɹtəˈfeɪʃənt/

Definition

n. a substance or medicine that causes a miscarriage or stops a pregnancy. It is a technical word used in medical and legal discussions.

n. a substance or agent that induces abortion or prevents the development of a foetus. Often used in clinical or legal contexts to describe specific pharmaceutical compounds.

Examples

“The doctor explained the risks of using an abortifacient.”

“The legal debate centered on whether the drug in question was a true abortifacient or merely a contraceptive.”

“Historically, various herbal remedies were classified as abortifacients, though modern pharmacology distinguishes between substances that prevent implantation and those that terminate an established pregnancy.”

Examples

simple

“The doctor explained the risks of using an abortifacient.”

contextual

“The legal debate centered on whether the drug in question was a true abortifacient or merely a contraceptive.”

complex

“Historically, various herbal remedies were classified as abortifacients, though modern pharmacology distinguishes between substances that prevent implantation and those that terminate an established pregnancy.”

Etymology

First attested in 1875. abort + -facient (“causing an”), from Latin facere (“to make”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

NOUN

abortifacient(C1)

ADJECTIVE

ADVERB

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Rare
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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