chlorhexidine

British

/ klɔːˈhɛksɪdiːn /

noun

an antiseptic compound used in skin cleansers, mouthwashes, etc

"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

Etymology

Origin of chlorhexidine

C20: from _chlor ( _o ) _- + _hex ( _ane ) + _-i ( _de ) + ( _am ) _ine

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.

Traditional oral care products like alcohol-based mouthwashes and chlorhexidine solutions kill harmful bacteria, but they also wipe out beneficial microbes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

The researchers based their conclusions on a systematic review examining how garlic extract performs against chlorhexidine in clinical settings and whether it can realistically function as an herbal substitute.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

Worryingly, early research also indicates that chlorhexidine may contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024

The antiseptic soap was a 4 percent chlorhexidine solution sold in many drugstores.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2019

The disinfectant chlorhexidine and antibiotic mupirocin can also have adverse effects on patients — especially premature babies in the ICU, whose skin and neurological systems are still developing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2017

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023