antibacterial
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Etymology
Origin of antibacterial
First recorded in 1895–1900; anti- + bacterial ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does antibacterial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Something that's antibacterial works by killing bacteria or keeping it from growing. You might put antibacterial ointment on a cut to help keep it clean and free from infection. Officially, an antibiotic like penicillin is an antibacterial agent — it kills bacteria, microorganisms that cause disease. You're more likely to find the word antibacterial describing special soaps and lotions that don't just wash bacteria off your hands, but actually kill them. The word combines anti-, "against," and bacterial, from the Greek root bakterion, "small staff," which describes the shape of the first bacteria seen through microscopes.
Vocabulary lists containing antibacterial
Microbiology - High School
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Microbiology - Middle School
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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.
That is obviously several steps removed from GoPuff loading antibacterial wipes into my late-night cart.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Then came paper towels, Method cleaner, dish soap, lime sparkling water and grapefruit-scented antibacterial wipes.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Fibers made with graphene oxide retained their antibacterial properties even after repeated washing, suggesting strong potential for use in clothing, medical fabrics, and other practical applications.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2026
The researchers found that graphene oxide carries out what they describe as "selective antibacterial action."
From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2026
She writes the number in the little green notebook that lives in the cabinet next to the antibacterial ointment, then flips through twenty-four weeks of humiliating recorded weights.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
