antidote

noun ahn-tee-DOT Rare

Origin: From Greek 'antidoton' (given against).

Also means

remedy, cure (figurative)

Usage Note

Antidote in French is always masculine and refers both to a medical counter-poison and figuratively to any remedy for a problem — l'humour est un antidote au stress (humour is an antidote to stress). The word entered French via Latin from Greek, and the Greek prefix anti- (against) is still productive in French vocabulary.

Examples

"Il n'existe pas encore d'antidote contre ce venin."

Natural Translation

There is no antidote against this venom yet.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

How to Pronounce the French R (Step by Step)

The French R is a back-of-the-throat sound, not a rolled R. Learn the exact tongue position and a step-by-step drill to build it from sounds you already make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read