Acetamide (or acetic acid amide or ethanamide), CH₃CONH₂, the amide of acetic acid, is a white crystalline solid in pure form. It is produced by dehydrating ammonium acetate. It is used as a plasticizer and in the synthesis of many other organic compounds.

Acetamide is not extremely combustible, but releases irritating fumes when ignited. It is toxic by inhalation (of dust), ingestion, skin and eye contact. Skin or eye contact may cause redness and pain.

The derivative N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), which has two methyl groups replacing the amine protons, is used as a solvent.

Recent work on the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope has resulted in the discovery of several carbon compounds near the center of out galaxy. Acetamide is one of those compounds. This is particularly important as Acetamide has a peptide bond, the essential bond between amino acids in proteins. This gives credence to the theory that the organic molecules that led to life on Earth originally formed in space.