1. a white crystalline compound derived from aniline and acetic acid, used as a pain reliever and fever reducer in medicine and as a chemical intermediate in manufacturing
Usage: also called N-phenylacetamide; technical/pharmaceutical term; largely replaced by paracetamol in modern medicine

Examples

• Acetanilide was once a common ingredient in over-the-counter pain medications.
• The chemist synthesized acetanilide in the laboratory using aniline and acetic anhydride.
• Acetanilide has a melting point of approximately 114 degrees Celsius.
• In the early 20th century, acetanilide was widely used as an antipyretic drug.
• The pharmaceutical industry now prefers paracetamol over acetanilide for safety reasons.