antiseptic

American  

[an-tuh-sep-tik] / ˌæn təˈsɛp tɪk /

adjective

1. pertaining to or affecting antisepsis.

2. free from or cleaned of germs and other microorganisms.

3. exceptionally clean or neat.

4. free of contamination or pollution.

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noun

• antiseptics
  plural

1. an antiseptic agent.

antiseptic British  

/ ˌæntɪˈsɛptɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or effecting antisepsis

2. entirely free from contamination

3. informal lacking spirit or excitement; clinical

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noun

1. an antiseptic agent or substance

antiseptic Scientific  

/ ăn′tĭ-sĕp′tĭk /

1. A substance that inhibits the proliferation of infectious microorganisms.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiseptically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• antiseptics
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of antiseptic

First recorded in 1745–55; anti- + septic

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Explanation

If you are out to kill some microorganisms, an antiseptic will come in handy! If you go to a hospital for a cut on your arm, the nurse will apply an antiseptic to the wound because it will kill any bacteria, while not harming your healthy skin. Antiseptic is also an adjective that describes the state of being clean and without disease-causing bacteria: "The antiseptic wash the nurse splashed over your arm was bright blue and smelled funny, but it kept your wound free of infection." Antiseptic can also describe something that is clean in a different way — as in, free of any objectionable language. A comedian's jokes could be so antiseptic that even your grandmother would like them.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

antiseptic antiseptics

Today you are told that you are just a citizen of the world, that we all buy stuff from the same national retailers that are part of a big antiseptic, flattened culture.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026

It found that chlorhexidine, an antiseptic mouthwash, disrupted nitrate processing and reduced gastric nitric oxide synthesis, while dietary nitrate supplementation partly preserved microbial function and nitric oxide related signaling during antiseptic use.

From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026

In an age before antiseptic, opening up the body almost always led to infection and death.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

I reclined in the exam chair as Shalom parted my hair into sections and cleansed the area with an antiseptic liquid.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025

These antiseptic measures worked because the chemicals killed bacteria.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

There were no antibiotics to fight infectious diseases, no reliable antiseptics or anesthetics for surgeries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

Garlic extract has been found to offer antimicrobial effects that are on par with commonly used antiseptics and disinfectants such as chlorhexidine, according to medical researchers at the University of Sharjah.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 8, 2025

Les spent long hours in the surgical theater, which in Macclesfield had little in the way of ventilation, and Joy typically found that he came home smelling of anesthetics, antiseptics and blood.

From New York Times ● Jun. 14, 2024

It sells over-the-counter antiseptics and laxatives, according to court documents.

From Reuters ● May 23, 2023

In 1882 Koch made a further advance by developing a solid culture medium which permitted disinfectants and antiseptics to be studied quantitatively with a greater degree of accuracy than had been possible previously.

From Chlorination of Water by Joseph Race

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Related Words

• hygienic
• sterile

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