What does antidepressant mean?
An antidepressant is a medication prescribed to relieve the symptoms of depression, and it is also used to treat conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and chronic pain. Antidepressants work by influencing neurotransmitters — chemical messengers such as serotonin and norepinephrine — that affect mood and emotional regulation. Common classes include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, each differing in mechanism and side-effect profile. In everyday speech, people may say they are 'on antidepressants' or that a doctor 'prescribed an antidepressant,' and the plural often refers to ongoing treatment rather than multiple drugs. The term appears frequently in medical, journalistic, and personal contexts, and its use has become increasingly normalized as conversations about mental health have grown more open. Because effects typically take weeks to appear, discussion of antidepressants often involves patience, dosage adjustments, and professional supervision.
nounA drug used to treat depression and certain other conditions, such as anxiety disorders, by affecting mood-regulating chemicals in the brain.
- A medication prescribed to relieve the symptoms of depression, and sometimes anxiety and other conditions.
"Her doctor prescribed an antidepressant after several months of persistent low mood."
"It can take several weeks for an antidepressant to reach its full effect."
"She was hesitant to start taking antidepressants, but they made a noticeable difference within a month."
The plural commonly refers either to multiple drugs of this class or, informally, to an ongoing course of treatment ('she's on antidepressants').
"Newer antidepressants tend to have fewer side effects than older ones."
The first modern antidepressant, imipramine, was discovered by accident in the 1950s while researchers were testing a drug meant to treat tuberculosis.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antidepressant
The word combines the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek, meaning 'against') with 'depressant,' from the Latin 'deprimere,' meaning 'to press down.' It emerged in the mid-20th century alongside the development of the first modern psychiatric medications, such as iproniazid and imipramine, in the 1950s. Its roots connect it to words like 'depress,' 'depression,' 'suppress,' and 'repress,' all derived from the same Latin verb.
How antidepressant is actually used
Used in both clinical and everyday contexts; often pluralized when referring to a course of treatment rather than a specific drug. The word carries little stigma in contemporary usage, though discussions of mental-health medication remain sensitive for some speakers.
Easily confused with antidepressant
An antipsychotic treats psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia), whereas an antidepressant primarily treats depression and related mood or anxiety disorders.