betamethasone

US: (bā′tə meth′ə sōn′ or, esp. Brit., bē′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•ta•meth•a•sone  (bā′tə meth′ə sōn′ or, esp. Brit., bē′-), n. [Pharm.]

1. Drugs a synthetic analogue of a glucocorticoid, C₂₂H₂₉FO₅, used in various forms in the treatment of inflammation, allergies, and tumors, and for replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency.

• perh. beta + meth(yl) + -a- connective vowel + (hydrocorti)sone, components of the chemical name