Word Noun
painkiller
n.
countable
B1 Intermediate US /ˈpeɪnˌkɪɫɝ/ UK /pˈeɪŋkɪlɐ/ painkiller UK spelling painkillers
Definition
n.a medicine that you take to make a physical injury or illness less painful. You might take one for a headache or a broken arm.
n.a drug or substance used to relieve physical pain. Often used in the plural to refer to the general category of analgesics.
Examples
“She took a painkiller for her headache.”
“The doctor prescribed a stronger painkiller after the patient's surgery to help manage the initial recovery phase.”
“While over-the-counter painkillers are effective for minor aches, chronic conditions often require a more nuanced approach involving physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments.”
Etymology
From pain + killer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated