adjuvant

[ aj-uh-vuhnt ]

adjective

1. serving to help or assist; auxiliary:

   You'll be serving in an adjuvant capacity, on call if we need you.

2. Medicine/Medical. utilizing drugs, radiation therapy, or other means of supplemental treatment following cancer surgery or other primary cancer treatment: Compare neoadjuvant.

   The cancer was caught at such an early stage that adjuvant measures were determined to be unnecessary.

noun

1. a person or thing that aids or helps:

   a team of adjuvants.

2. Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology. anything that aids in the treatment of disease, management of pain, etc., especially a substance added to a medication to aid the effect of the main ingredient:

   For some in acute pain, caffeine is an effective analgesic adjuvant.

3. Immunology. a substance admixed with an immunogen in order to elicit a more marked immune response:

   Aluminum salts have been used as adjuvants in vaccines for many decades.

adjuvant

/ ˈædʒəvənt /

adjective

1. aiding or assisting

noun

1. something that aids or assists; auxiliary
2. med a drug or other substance that enhances the activity of another
3. immunol a substance that enhances the immune response stimulated by an antigen when injected with the antigen

Word History and Origins

Origin of adjuvant¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin adjuvant- (stem of adjuvāns, adjective use of present participle of adjuvāre ), equivalent to prefix ad- + juv- (stem of juvāre “to help”) + -ant; ad- ( def ), aid, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of adjuvant¹

C17: from Latin adjuvāns, present participle of adjuvāre, from juvāre to help

Example Sentences

The new vaccine combines the traditional pertussis antigens with an innovative adjuvant called T-vant, which boosts the body's immune response specifically in the respiratory tract.

From Science Daily

It’s the princess’ first official engagement since she concluded adjuvant chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

When utilizing protein antigens as vaccines, adjuvants are typically employed to prevent degradation or enhance immunogenicity.

From Science Daily

These so-called adjuvants are added in small quantities but have a big protective effect, particularly in infants with immature immune systems and older people with a declining immune response.

From Science Daily

They are used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and as adjuvant therapy for cancer patients to alleviate the side effects of cancer therapy.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• ancillary
• supplementary