amoxicillin

American

[am-ok-suh-sil-in, uh-mok-] / æmˌɒk səˈsɪl ɪn, əˌmɒk- /

noun

Pharmacology.

a semisynthetic penicillin, C 18 H 19 N 3 O 5 S, taken orally as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

amoxicillin Scientific

/ ə-mŏk′sĭ-sĭl′ĭn /

An antibiotic derived from penicillin, having an antibacterial spectrum of action similar to that of ampicillin. Chemical formula: C ₁₆ H ₁₉ N ₃ O ₅.

Etymology

Origin of amoxicillin

1970–75; perhaps am(ino-hydr)ox(yphenyl) part of its chemical name + (pen)icillin

Compare meaning

How does amoxicillin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

penicillin vs. amoxicillin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Treatment with standard antibiotics amoxicillin and clindamycin caused dramatic shifts in the overall structure of bacterial populations in the mouse gut, diminishing the abundance several beneficial microbial groups, the team found.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2024

Another study tested its ability to stop bacteria in wounds, and some snail mucus performed better than commercial antibiotics, including amoxicillin and streptomycin.

From National Geographic • Jan. 8, 2024

Another vital drug, amoxicillin, is running short for the second winter season in a row.

From Washington Times • Dec. 26, 2023

The findings signal a significant breakthrough given concerns that the current use of amoxicillin risks promoting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2023

Most drugs in short supply are older generic medicines that are relatively inexpensive to purchase but complex to manufacture: the pain reliever acetaminophen, the antibiotic amoxicillin, and IV saline solution, for example.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023