philter

noun

phil·ter ˈfil-tər

Synonyms of philter next

: a potion credited with magical power

: a potion, drug, or charm held to have the power to arouse sexual passion

Word History

Etymology

Middle French philtre, from Latin philtrum, from Greek philtron; akin to Greek philos dear

First Known Use

circa 1563, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of philter was circa 1563

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

-philous

philter

philtre

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Philter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philter. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

philter

noun

phil·ter

variants or chiefly British philtre

ˈfil-tər

: a potion, drug, or charm held to have the power to arouse sexual passion

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

philter

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on philter

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

spontaneous