antibiotic
1 synonyms and 0 antonyms 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.
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.