What does syringe mean?
A syringe is a device for injecting or withdrawing liquid, most commonly used in medicine, laboratories, and vaccination. It generally consists of a cylindrical barrel, a movable plunger, and a hollow needle or narrow tube. The word can also refer to the liquid or dose contained in the device. In everyday speech, “syringe” may specifically evoke the injection of drugs, although the term is also used in neutral medical and educational contexts. Its clear defining feature is controlled movement of a liquid through a narrow channel, whether the liquid is being introduced into or removed from the body. Because it is a countable noun, the usual plural is “syringes.”
nounA device used to inject or withdraw liquid, especially a medical instrument consisting of a barrel, a plunger, and a hollow needle or narrow tube. It may also refer to the contents or measured dose of a syringe.
- A medical or laboratory device used to inject or withdraw a liquid, usually through a plunger-driven barrel and a hollow needle.
- The amount of liquid held in, or administered from, such a device.
"The nurse used a sterile syringe to administer the vaccine."
"He drew the vaccine into the syringe before giving the injection."
"The laboratory technician replaced the syringe after each sample was collected."
The usual plural form is “syringes.”
"The clinic had several sterile syringes ready for use."
The word syringe comes from the Greek syrinx, meaning “pipe” or “reed,” a reminder that the instrument is designed to channel liquid through a narrow passage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does syringe come from?
The word comes through Medieval Latin syringa from Greek syrinx, meaning “pipe,” “tube,” or “reed.” The Greek term was borrowed into Latin and then into English, where it initially referred to a pipe or tube and acquired its modern medical sense over time. The same Greek root also underlies syrinx, the name for the vocal organ of songbirds and for an ancient Greek reed instrument.
Related word forms
How syringe is actually used
The word is standard in medical, laboratory, and public-health contexts. In informal usage, it can refer specifically to equipment used to inject drugs, often with a negative or cautionary connotation.
Easily confused with syringe
A syringe is a device for injecting or withdrawing liquid, whereas a syrinx is a bird's vocal organ or a type of ancient Greek wind instrument.