LARC
abbreviation or noun
plural LARCs
: a form of birth control (such as an IUD or contraceptive implant) that is usually inserted into and left in the body for an extended period of time (as for several years) : long-acting reversible contraceptive
These devices, often called LARCs, for long-acting reversible contraceptive, change a woman's fertility default. Without a LARC, preventing pregnancy means taking steps like filling prescriptions and remembering to take a pill every day. With one, a woman won't become pregnant until she takes the step of removing it.—
Margot Sanger-Katz
Margot Sanger-KatzUnlike other forms of birth control, like pills, patches and injectables, LARCs don't require ongoing maintenance. If you know you're likely to forget to take your pill … LARCs may be the best option for you.—Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland ClinicLess than one out of 100 get pregnant with a LARC—mainly because they take human error out of the equation …—Allison Batdorff
Allison BatdorffExamples of LARC in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The low failure rates make IUDs a popular choice among those seeking long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
The parents-to-be held a baby shower with friends and family at LARC's Arcadian Village in Lafayette, Louisiana on Nov. 16.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024
Abundant evidence shows that teen contraceptive use—including IUDs, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), oral contraceptives, and condoms—have an excellent safety and efficacy profile if used correctly.
—Dr. Scott A. Rivkees, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
Magnetic amplifiers were too slow for the logic circuits in the Univac LARC supercomputer of 1960, but they were used to drive its core memory.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022
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Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
The parents-to-be held a baby shower with friends and family at LARC's Arcadian Village in Lafayette, Louisiana on Nov. 16.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024
Abundant evidence shows that teen contraceptive use—including IUDs, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), oral contraceptives, and condoms—have an excellent safety and efficacy profile if used correctly.
—Dr. Scott A. Rivkees, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
Magnetic amplifiers were too slow for the logic circuits in the Univac LARC supercomputer of 1960, but they were used to drive its core memory.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“LARC.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/LARC. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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LARC
abbreviation or noun
: a form of birth control (such as an IUD or contraceptive implant) that is usually inserted into and left in the body for an extended period of time (as for several years) : long-acting reversible contraceptive
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