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definitions

antibacterial

[an-tee-bak-teer-ee-uh l, an-tahy-]
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adjective

destructive to or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

RELATED WORDS

hygienic, sterile, clean, antibiotic, prophylactic, disinfectant, aseptic, pure, sanitary, bactericidal, medicated, unpolluted

Origin of antibacterial

First recorded in 1895–1900; anti- + bacterial
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antibacterial

Contemporary Examples of antibacterial

Historical Examples of antibacterial

  • Hence the immunity may be antibacterial or antitoxic or both.

    The Fundamentals of Bacteriology

    Charles Bradfield Morrey

  • They climbed up the ladder and said nothing as the airlock went through its cycle and the antibacterial spray covered them.

    The Judas Valley

    Gerald Vance

British Dictionary definitions for antibacterial

antibacterial

adjective

effective against bacteria
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for antibacterial

antibacterial

[ăn′tē-băk-tîr′ē-əl, ăn′tī-]

adj.

Destroying or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
Related formsan′ti•bac•te′ri•al n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.