injectable
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪndʒˈɛktəbəl/
US
- /ˌɪnˈdʒɛktəbəl/
Description
- Can be given by injection
- given with a needle
- made for use by injection
"Injectable" describes something that can be put directly into the body with an injection, usually by a needle and syringe. It is often used for medicines. Not all medicines are made this way. Some are taken as pills, but if a medicine is made to be given by injection, it is called "injectable."
It is often used in medical settings to talk about drugs, vitamins, or vaccines. A doctor might say that an antibiotic comes in both pill and injectable form. It can also describe things made for use with injections, like "injectable water," a sterile liquid used to mix with some medicines. Sometimes the word is used more broadly for something that can be injected, even if doing so would not be common, practical, or safe.
The word "injectable" refers to anything that is suitable for administration into the body via an injection—meaning delivered directly through a needle and syringe. It's a term heavily rooted in medical and pharmaceutical contexts, describing substances designed to bypass the digestive system for a faster or more direct effect.
While many medications come in pill form, some are specifically formulated as injectables because they are broken down too quickly by the stomach, need to act rapidly, or require precise dosage control. For example, insulin for diabetics is commonly administered via injection, making it an injectable medication. Vaccines are also almost always injectable, stimulating the immune system directly.
However, "injectable" isn't limited to just drugs. It can describe vitamins (like B12), hormones, and even certain types of fillers used in cosmetic procedures. It's important to note that simply being able to inject something doesn't automatically make it safe or advisable! A substance might be technically "injectable" but incredibly dangerous if actually injected.
The term also extends to things used with injections, like "injectable water," a sterile solution used to dilute medications before injection. So, whether you're talking about life-saving medicines, preventative vaccines, or the tools that deliver them, "injectable" signifies something designed for direct entry into the body through an injection.
Examples
- 1
Medical treatment
The doctor prescribed an injectable medication instead of tablets.
- 2
Treatment form
This treatment is available as a pill or as an injectable.
Phrase
as an injectable
in a form that is given by injection
- 3
Cosmetic treatments
The clinic offers several injectables for reducing facial lines.
Grammar
injectables is often used as a plural noun for treatments given by injection
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- injectableadjective