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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Dosage Forms

Ointment

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/ˈɔɪntmənt/nounCommon term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, ointment means: A greasy, semi-solid preparation with little or no water that is applied to the skin or eyes and stays on the surface longer than a cream.

In Turkish: merhem, pomad

How it is used

Pharmacists compare ointments with creams (oil and water mixed, less greasy, easier to spread), gels and lotions. Ointments suit dry, scaly skin and protect it well, but patients may find them messy. Eye ointments are often used at night because they blur vision for a while.

Example sentences

  1. The ointment works better on her dry eczema than the cream did.

  2. This eye ointment can blur your vision for a while, so many people use it at bedtime.

Common collocations

  • apply an ointment
  • eye ointment
  • thin layer of ointment
  • ointment base
  • topicalApplied directly to a part of the body, such as the skin, the eyes or the inside of the nose, usually to act at that place rather than throughout the body.
  • dosage formThe physical form in which a medicine is made and given, such as a tablet, capsule, syrup, cream, injection, patch or suppository.
  • corticosteroidA medicine similar to hormones made by the adrenal glands, used to reduce inflammation and calm the immune system in conditions such as asthma, eczema and arthritis.
  • excipientAny ingredient in a medicine other than the active ingredient, such as a filler, binder, colouring, sweetener or preservative, that helps the product work and keep.

More terms: Dosage Forms

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.