antibiotic
1 synonym and 1 antonym for antibiotic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat bacterial infections.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
antibiotic drug
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat bacterial infections.
“The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics for her ear infection.”
antibiotic drug
Opposites
2. adj
Relating to substances that fight bacterial infection.
“The cream has antibiotic properties that help prevent the cut from getting infected.”
Opposites
Etymology
Borrowed from French antibiotique, built from anti- ("against") and -biotic ("relating to life," from Greek bios).
Full origin of antibiotic →Frequently asked questions
What does “antibiotic” mean?
The word “antibiotic” means a medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat bacterial infections. In plain terms, a drug that fights off bacteria, not viruses.
How do you pronounce “antibiotic”?
“Antibiotic” is pronounced an-tee-beye-OT-ihk (/ˌæn.taɪ.baɪˈɑ.tɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “antibiotic” in a sentence?
Here is “antibiotic” used in a sentence: “The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics for her ear infection.”
What part of speech is “antibiotic”?
Depending on how it is used, “antibiotic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “antibiotic” come from?
The word “antibiotic” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French antibiotique, built from anti- ("against") and -biotic ("relating to life," from Greek bios).
Is “antibiotic” a common word?
“Antibiotic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “antibiotic” have?
“Antibiotic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat bacterial infections.
