What does iodoform mean?
Iodoform is a yellow crystalline chemical compound whose formal name is triiodomethane. From the early nineteenth century, it was widely used in medicine because it has antiseptic and disinfectant properties, especially in surgical dressings and treatments for wounds and infections. Its distinctive smell and bright-yellow color made it familiar to doctors and patients for much of the twentieth century, although modern antiseptics and antibiotics have greatly reduced its use. Today, iodoform is encountered mainly in historical writing, specialist medical or pharmaceutical literature, and chemical contexts. The word also refers to a traditional gauze dressing impregnated with the compound. In ordinary contemporary conversation, however, the term is specialized rather than everyday, and it is less appropriate when describing a specific manufactured dressing without further explanation.
nounIodoform is a yellowish crystalline chemical compound, triiodomethane, formerly used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. It has a distinctive pungent odor and is now mainly encountered in chemical, pharmaceutical, and historical contexts.
- The chemical compound triiodomethane, a yellow crystalline solid formerly used as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
"The surgeon applied iodoform to the wound before dressing it."
"Iodoform was once widely used in surgical dressings for its antiseptic properties."
"The laboratory analyzed a sample of iodoform to determine its chemical purity."
Usually uncountable in modern usage; the plural is rare and is chiefly needed when referring to separate samples or preparations.
"The chemist compared the iodoforms produced by two different methods."
Iodoform gave its name to one of medicine’s most recognizable old-fashioned dressings, but its powerful antiseptic role has largely given way to modern alternatives.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does iodoform come from?
Iodoform was formed in the nineteenth century by combining iodine with form, in the sense of a chemical form or compound. The iodine element comes from Greek iodos, meaning violet or purple, referring to the color of iodine vapor, while the suffix reflects the broader chemical naming pattern also seen in chloroform and bromoform. Its name reflects both the substance’s iodine content and its historical medical use as an antiseptic.
How iodoform is actually used
The term is now uncommon in general medical usage and is mainly historical, technical, or pharmaceutical. When referring to the substance in general, it is normally treated as an uncountable noun; it should not be confused with the similarly named antiseptic dressing.
Easily confused with iodoform
Iodoform is triiodomethane and was used mainly as an antiseptic, whereas chloroform is a chlorinated solvent and anesthetic.