What does afebrile mean?
Afebrile is a formal medical adjective meaning “having no fever” or “free from fever.” It is used to describe patients, temperatures, symptoms, or periods in which an elevated body temperature associated with illness is not present. A clinician might note that a patient remained afebrile during observation, or use the term to distinguish a symptom-free state from a febrile one. The word comes from the Latin prefix meaning “without” combined with febrile, meaning “feverish” or “having fever.” Although its basic meaning is straightforward, afebrile is useful because it conveys a specific clinical finding rather than merely suggesting that someone feels generally well. It is especially common in medical documentation, hospital discussions, and formal descriptions of illness, while less frequent in ordinary conversation.
adjectiveHaving no fever; free from fever. It is commonly used to describe a patient whose body temperature is not elevated above the expected range.
- Having no fever; free from fever.
"The patient remained afebrile throughout the night."
"The patient remained afebrile throughout the night."
"Despite the outbreak, all infected passengers were afebrile when screened."
Afebrile literally means “without fever”: a medical way to say that a temperature is not showing the heat of illness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does afebrile come from?
Afebrile was formed in English using the Latin prefix a-, meaning “without,” with febrile, meaning “feverish.” The element febrile comes from Latin febrilis, derived from febris, “fever,” the same source of the English word fever. Related forms include the now less common noun febricity and the closely related adjective febrile.
How afebrile is actually used
Afebrile is formal, especially clinical, and is normally used of a patient, a measured temperature, or a period during which fever is absent. It is more common in medical records and professional discussion than in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with afebrile
Afebrile means free from fever, whereas febrile means having or associated with a fever.