contraindicated
|con-tra-in-di-cat-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˌkɑːntrəˈɪndɪkeɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌkɒntrəˈɪndɪkeɪtɪd/
(contraindicate)
advised against for safety (esp. medically)
Etymology
'contraindicated' originates from modern scientific English, combining the Latin-derived prefix 'contra-' meaning 'against' with 'indicate' from Latin 'indicāre' meaning 'to point out'.
'contraindicate' was formed in English in the 19th century from 'contra-' + 'indicate' (compare French 'contre-indiquer'); adding the suffix '-ed' yielded the participial/adjectival form 'contraindicated'.
Initially, it meant 'to indicate as inadvisable (against use),' and this meaning has remained stable in modern medical usage, extending to the adjectival sense 'not recommended' for specific conditions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'contraindicate'.
Her documented penicillin allergy contraindicated amoxicillin.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
not recommended; advised against (especially of a drug, procedure, or activity) because it may be harmful in a particular situation.
This medication is contraindicated for patients with severe liver disease.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/09 09:55