probiotic
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for probiotic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A live micro-organism, usually a bacterium or yeast, taken in food or as a supplement in the expectation that it will have some effect once inside the body. The term is also used for the food or capsule containing such organisms.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
live culture
friendly bacteria
cultured supplement
Antonyms
How to use probiotic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
probiotic supplement
probiotic yoghurt
live probiotic cultures
probiotic strain
Everyday word in food retail and health writing; regulated claims about probiotics differ substantially between countries.
Etymology
From pro- meaning for or in favour of, and Greek biotikos, meaning pertaining to life; formed as a counterpart to antibiotic.
Full origin of probiotic →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a probiotic and a prebiotic?
A probiotic is the live micro-organism itself. A prebiotic is a food component, usually a type of fibre, that the micro-organisms already present in the gut can feed on. One supplies organisms, the other supplies their food.
Are all fermented foods probiotic?
No. Fermentation is done by micro-organisms, but many fermented foods are then heated, pasteurised or baked, which kills them. Bread and most shop-bought sauerkraut in tins are fermented without containing live cultures at the point of eating.
What does the strain name on a probiotic label mean?
It identifies the specific organism, usually as genus, species and a strain code, for example Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Different strains within the same species are distinct organisms and are studied separately.
