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.
Remarkably, the antibacterial activity appeared regardless of which prehistoric extraction technique the researchers used.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
In a plant, that means any antibacterial effect they have fades quickly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
Ehrlich’s antisyphilis drug Salvarsan, followed by the antibacterial Prontosil, showed that systematic chemical screening could yield medicines aimed at specific diseases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Then came paper towels, Method cleaner, dish soap, lime sparkling water and grapefruit-scented antibacterial wipes.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Or to hose it down with an antibacterial spray.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
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.
