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Synonyms

suppository

American  
[suh-poz-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / səˈpɒz ɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

plural

suppositories

  1. a solid, conical mass of medicinal substance that melts upon insertion into the rectum or vagina.

suppository British  
/ -trɪ, səˈpɒzɪtərɪ /

noun

  1. med an encapsulated or solid medication for insertion into the vagina, rectum, or urethra, where it melts and releases the active substance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of suppository

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin suppositōrium, equivalent to supposi-, variant stem of suppōnere ( suppose ) + -tōrium -tory 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By Wednesday evening, only three boxes of generic ibuprofen chewables, two boxes of generic acetaminophen chewables and six boxes of suppository acetaminophen remained.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022

Even without the help of Roman’s suggested Tabasco suppository, he was returning to his old rhino self.

From Slate • Nov. 15, 2021

If you do, you'll be given an antifungal prescription like fluconazole, or told to purchase an over-the-counter cream or ointment, or a suppository that's inserted into the vagina.

From US News • Dec. 22, 2015

He said: "No one, however smart, however well-educated, however experienced, is the suppository of all wisdom."

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2013

Tea brewed from the leaves, or the sap taken orally, or a silphion suppository, was said to prevent conception and/or induce abortion.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.