Showing results for chlorhexidine. Search instead for chlorhexidines.

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.

A 2025 Scientific Reports study in rats found that a nitrate and antioxidant mouth rinse supported nitrate and nitrite reducing oral bacteria and was associated with lower blood pressure compared with chlorhexidine treatment.

From Science Daily • May 25, 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

In the UK, antiseptic mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine are commonly used to treat dental plaque and gum disease.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024

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

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