ethinyl estradiol
noun
: a very potent synthetic estrogen C20H24O2 used especially as an oral contraceptive
Examples of ethinyl estradiol in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The estrogen dose in a typical combination birth control pill usually ranges from 20 to 35 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol.
—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
19 Aug. 2025
The combination of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol has been available since 1968 as a contraceptive.
—
Claire Bugos,
Verywell Health,
30 July 2024
Taytulla, also called ethinyl estradiol, gained Food and Drug Administration approval in 2013.
—
Austen Hufford,
WSJ,
29 May 2018
One environmental estrogen is ethinyl estradiol—a chemical found in birth control pills.
—
National Geographic,
3 Feb. 2016
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Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
19 Aug. 2025
The combination of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol has been available since 1968 as a contraceptive.
—
Claire Bugos,
Verywell Health,
30 July 2024
Taytulla, also called ethinyl estradiol, gained Food and Drug Administration approval in 2013.
—
Austen Hufford,
WSJ,
29 May 2018
One environmental estrogen is ethinyl estradiol—a chemical found in birth control pills.
—
National Geographic,
3 Feb. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Ethinyl estradiol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethinyl%20estradiol. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ethinyl estradiol
noun
variants
or ethynylestradiol
or chiefly British ethinyloestradiol
or ethynyloestradiol
: a white crystalline very potent synthetic estrogen C20H24O2 prepared from estrone and used in combination (as with norgestrel or norethindrone) as a birth control pill or alone in the treatment of menopausal symptoms or female hypogonadism or in the palliative treatment of prostate or breast cancer see loestrin, minastrin, nuvaring, ortho evra, ortho-novum, ortho tri-cyclen, seasonale, seasonique, yasmin, yaz
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