excipient

American  

[ik-sip-ee-uhnt] / ɪkˈsɪp i ənt /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a pharmacologically inert, adhesive substance, as honey, syrup, or gum arabic, used to bind the contents of a pill or tablet.

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excipient British  

/ ɪkˈsɪpɪənt /

noun

1. a substance, such as sugar or gum, used to prepare a drug or drugs in a form suitable for administration

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Etymology

Origin of excipient

1720–30; < Latin excipient- (stem of excipiēns ), present participle of excipere to take out, except, take up, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + -cipi- (stem of combining form of capere to take) + -ent- -ent

Example Sentences

In the long sheet of information folded tightly and crammed into a box of pills, lactose is identified as an “inert” or “excipient” ingredient.

From Washington Post

The body or prescription contains the following: the Basis, or principal active ingredient; the Adjuvant, or Auxiliary, to assist its action; the Corrective, to correct or diminish some undesirable quality; the Vehicle, or Excipient, to give a suitable form for administration.

From Project Gutenberg

Excipient, ek-sip′i-ent, n. a substance mixed with a medicine to give it consistence, or used as a vehicle for its administration.

From Project Gutenberg

Gum tragacanth is used in calico-printing as a thickener of colours and mordants; in medicine as a demulcent and vehicle for insoluble powders, and as an excipient in pills; and for setting and mending beetles and other insect specimens.

From Project Gutenberg

Hostes Ecclesiae eos lacessere non verebuntur, nunc eis objicientes errores quos Pontifices aut docuisse, aut sua agendi ratione probasse, dicuntur et risu excipient responsa quae sola afferri possint.—Eo ipso definitur in globo quidquid per diplomata apostolica huc usque definitum est....

From Project Gutenberg