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Glite Dictionary
stilbesterol

stilbesterol

9.9
A synthetic female hormone once given to women and animals, later linked to cancer in daughters of treated women
  • noun
  • /ˌstɪlˈbɛrɪstɔl/
  • Archaic
: estilbestrol
  • Doctors once prescribed stilbesterol for preventing miscarriages.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered that stilbesterol exposure was linked to reproductive tract cancers.

  • The use of stilbesterol in livestock feed was banned.

  • Doctors rarely prescribe stilbesterol today, given its association with serious side effects.

  • The use of stilbesterol in pregnancy has been discontinued due to health risks.

  • Doctors rarely prescribe stilbesterol today, given its association with serious side effects.

  • Researchers discovered that stilbesterol exposure was linked to reproductive tract cancers.

  • The use of stilbesterol in pregnancy has been discontinued due to health risks.

Synonyms

DES
vsstilbesterol
  • Specialized
3 9.9

A man-made hormone once given to pregnant women that caused health problems

focuses on the same chemical but stresses offspring cancer links
diethylstilbestrol
vsstilbesterol
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A man-made strong female sex hormone once used in medicine and in animal feed

is the same drug but highlights cancer found in daughters of treated women
stilbestrol
vsstilbesterol
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A strong man-made female hormone once used as medicine and to make farm animals grow faster

is used to note the same substance with proven cancer risk in daughters
diethylstilbesterol
vsstilbesterol
  • Archaic
9.9

A man-made female hormone once given to women, later linked to cancer in their daughters

is the same compound but recorded for causing cancer in daughters

Surface Forms

stilbesterol singular
stilbesterols plural

Etymology

Stilbesterol comes from a chemical name that joins stilbene (an old word that meant 'to shine') with the ending -estrol ('estrogen-like'). So the name points to a strong, man-made form of the female hormone estrogen, which helps explain why it was used in medicine and farming and why its risks are connected to hormones.