noun
Uncommon
antibiotic
an-tee-beye-OT-ihk
Antibiotic (noun) means a medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat bacterial infections. Example: “The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics for her ear infection.”
noun
1
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."
"Overusing antibiotics has led to bacteria that are harder to treat."
adj
1
Relating to substances that fight bacterial infection.
"The cream has antibiotic properties that help prevent the cut from getting infected."
How to use antibiotic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA drug that fights off bacteria, not viruses.
Common mistake
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viral ones like the common cold or flu — taking them for a virus doesn't help and can contribute to resistance.
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Word forms
- Plural
- antibiotics
- Comparative
- more antibiotic
- Superlative
- most antibiotic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The doctor prescribed a course of _____ for her ear infection.
Etymology
Borrowed from French antibiotique, built from anti- ("against") and -biotic ("relating to life," from Greek bios).
Synonyms
View more →
antibiotic drug
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for antibiotic
biotic
exotic
erotic
robotic
chaotic
idiotic
neurotic
narcotic
hypnotic
amniotic
probiotic
patriotic
See all rhymes for 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.
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