antibacterial

[ an-tee-bak-teer-ee-uhl, an-tahy- ]
/ ˌæn ti bækˈtɪər i əl, ˌæn taɪ- /
Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR antibacterial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

destructive to or inhibiting the growth of bacteria: a full line of antibacterial hand lotions, deodorants, and foot powders.

noun

an antibacterial product, as a hand or dish soap, a mouthwash, an aerosol cleaner, or an antibiotic: Sorry, but none of these antibacterials is going to kill your cold virus.

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Compare antimicrobial.

Origin of antibacterial

First recorded in 1895–1900; anti- + bacterial

Words nearby antibacterial

antiart, antiarthritic, antiatom, antiauxin, antibacchius, antibacterial, antiballistic, antiballistic missile, antiballistic missile treaty, antibaryon, antibes
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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Words related to antibacterial

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

Example sentences from the Web for antibacterial

British Dictionary definitions for antibacterial

antibacterial
/ (ˌæntɪbækˈtɪərɪəl) /

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

Medical definitions for antibacterial

antibacterial
[ ăn′tē-băk-tîr′ē-əl, ăn′tī- ]

adj.

Destroying or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Other words from antibacterial

an′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.