# sedative

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɛdətɪv/ · frequency rank #29,453

## Definitions
1. An agent or drug that sedates, having a calming or soothing effect, or inducing sleep.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English sedatif, from Anglo-Norman sedatif, from Medieval Latin sēdātīvus, which itself likely influenced the modern spelling.

## Easily confused with
- **seductive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sedative-vs-seductive)
- **sedate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sedate-vs-sedative)
- **sedation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sedation-vs-sedative)

## Common misspellings (11)
`esdative`, `sdeative`, `seadtive`, `sedaitve`, `sedatiev`, `sedativve`, `sedattive`, `sedatvie`, `seddative`, `sedtaive`, `ssedative`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sedative