antibiotic

1 of 2

noun

an·​ti·​bi·​ot·​ic
ˌan-tē-bī-ˈä-tik,
-ˌtī- How to pronounce antibiotic (audio) -bē-ˈä- How to pronounce antibiotic (audio)
Synonyms of antibioticnext
: a substance able to inhibit or kill microorganisms
specifically : an antibacterial substance (such as penicillin, cephalosporin, and ciprofloxacin) that is used to treat or prevent infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria in or on the body, that is administered orally, topically, or by injection, and that is isolated from cultures of certain microorganisms (such as fungi) or is of semi-synthetic or synthetic origin
Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include muscle aches, fever, cramps and diarrhea leading to gastrointestinal illness, which can be treated with antibiotics. —Chicago Daily Herald
Another way to produce new variants of established antibiotics is to use genetic engineering to alter the biochemical pathways of the microbes that produce them. —New Scientist
Experts agree that by spiking animal feed with antibiotics, conventional farmers are speeding the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. —Geoffrey Cowley

Note: While antibiotics are effective mainly against bacteria, they are sometimes used to treat protozoal infections. Some consider antibiotics to include only those derived fully or partly from microorganisms and exclude synthetic forms from this class of drugs.

antibiotic

2 of 2

adjective

1
: tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life
2
: of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis
antibiotic drugs
antibiotically
ˌan-tē-bī-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē
ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antibiotic (audio)
-bē-ˈä-
adverb

Examples of antibiotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
However, if a provider suspects Mycoplasma, antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline are usually prescribed. —Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024 In more severe or persistent cases, healthcare providers may recommend antibiotics. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The oral antibiotic doxycycline is used for STI prevention. —Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 Tetracycline is a common broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat everything from syphilis to bacterial skin and lung infections. —Joe Salas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for antibiotic 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of antibiotic entry 2

Note: Noun use of the adjective antibiotic probably began in the early 1940's, preceded by the frequent collocation antibiotic substance, but was not common before Selman waksman's paper "What Is an Antibiotic or an Antibiotic Substance?" (Mycologia, vol. 39, no. 5 [September-October, 1947]). Waksman has been credited with coining antibiotic, though he does not claim to have done so, and in fact gives an account of the earlier history of the word in this article.

Adjective

borrowed from French antibiotique, derivative of antibiose antibiosis (after symbiose symbiosis : symbiotique symbiotic)

Note: See note at antibiosis.

First Known Use

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of antibiotic was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near antibiotic

antibiosis

antibiotic

antiblack

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Antibiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antibiotic. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

antibiotic

noun
an·​ti·​bi·​ot·​ic
ˌant-i-bī-ˈät-ik,
ˌan-ˌtī-,
ˌant-i-bē-
: a substance produced by an organism (as a fungus or bacterium) that in dilute solution inhibits or kills a harmful microscopic plant or animal and especially one that causes disease
antibiotic adjective

Medical Definition

antibiotic

1 of 2 adjective
an·​ti·​bi·​ot·​ic -bī-ˈät-ik; -bē- How to pronounce antibiotic (audio)
1
: tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life
2
: of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis
antibiotically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce antibiotic (audio)
adverb

antibiotic

2 of 2 noun
: a substance able to inhibit or kill microorganisms
specifically an antibacterial substance (as penicillin, cephalosporin, and ciprofloxacin) that is used to treat or prevent infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria in or on the body, that is administered orally, topically, or by injection, and that is isolated from cultures of certain microorganisms (as fungi) or is of semi-synthetic or synthetic origin

Note: While antibiotics are effective mainly against bacteria, they are sometimes used to treat protozoal infections. Some consider antibiotics to include only those derived fully or partly from microorganisms and exclude synthetic forms from this class of drugs.

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