Ethanolamine (2-aminoethanol, monoethanolamine, ETA, or MEA) is a naturally occurring organic chemical compound with the formula HOCH2CH2NH2 or C2H7NO.

[9] Ethanolamine is commonly called monoethanolamine or MEA in order to be distinguished from diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEOA).

A class of antihistamines is identified as ethanolamines, which includes carbinoxamine, clemastine, dimenhydrinate, chlorphenoxamine, diphenhydramine and doxylamine.

In 1897 Ludwig Knorr developed the modern industrial route (see below) and separated the products, including MEA, by fractional distillation, for the first time studying their properties.

Ethanolamine is the second-most-abundant head group for phospholipids, substances found in biological membranes (particularly those of prokaryotes); e.g., phosphatidylethanolamine.

[15] Ethanolamine is biosynthesized by decarboxylation of serine:[16] Derivatives of ethanolamine are widespread in nature; e.g., lipids, as precursor of a variety of N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), that modulate several animal and plant physiological processes such as seed germination, plant–pathogen interactions, chloroplast development and flowering,[17] as well as precursor, combined with arachidonic acid C20H32O2 20:4, ω-6), to form the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA: C22H37NO2; 20:4, ω-6).

[20] MEA is used as feedstock in the production of detergents, emulsifiers, polishes, pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, and chemical intermediates.