teratogen

[ tuh-rat-uh-juhn, -jen, ter-uh-tuh- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. a drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects.

teratogen

/ ˈtɛrətədʒən; tɪˈrætə- /

noun

1. any substance, organism, or process that causes malformations in a fetus. Teratogens include certain drugs (such as thalidomide), infections (such as German measles), and ionizing radiation

teratogen

/ tə-răt′ə-jən,tĕr′ə-tə- /

1. An agent, such as a virus, a drug, or radiation, that can cause malformations in an embryo or fetus.

Derived Forms

• ˌteratoˈgenicist, noun
• ˌteratoˈgenic, adjective
• ˌteratogeˈnicity, noun

Other Words From

• te·rato·genic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of teratogen¹

First recorded in 1900–05; terato- + -gen

Example Sentences

"It really is like a teratogen in pregnancy, a factor which interferes with normal fetal development, but it's still not taken seriously by a lot of medical professionals," Fejzo says.

From Science Daily

Thalidomide, a well-known teratogen in humans, and retinoid derivatives -- used in treatments against leukaemia, psoriasis, and acne -- are known to cause severe heart defects in the fetus.

From Science Daily

Potential teratogens are typically screened for using animals such as rodents and rabbits.

From Science Daily

Initially, the courts concerned themselves with a narrow set of questions: Was Bendectin a teratogen?

From Salon

Alcohol was a teratogen, a substance that kills or damages developing cells, the researchers said, and then for the first time used term fetal alcohol syndrome to describe the result.

From Washington Post