# ASA

/ˈɑsə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/asa
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. aspirin

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for acetylsalicylic acid. This is the chemical name for aspirin, a common medicine for pain and fever.

For teachers: Abbreviation for acetylsalicylic acid. Used in medical and pharmacological contexts to refer to the salicylate drug commonly known as aspirin.

- The doctor noted that the patient was already taking 81mg of ASA daily.
- Clinical guidelines suggest that low-dose ASA therapy may be beneficial for patients with a high risk of cardiovascular events.

Usage: Usually treated as an uncountable noun in medical shorthand.

## Examples

- She took an ASA for her headache.
- The doctor prescribed ASA to reduce the inflammation in his knee.
- Historians often study the transition period when the Army Air Forces became a separate branch, marking the end of the ASA era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.