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ciprofloxacin

American  
[sip-roh-flok-suh-sin] / ˌsɪp roʊˈflɒk sə sɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.
  1. a fluoroquinolone, C 17 H 18 FN 3 O 3, used in its hydrochloride form as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.


ciprofloxacin British  
/ ˌsɪprəʊˈflɒksəsɪn /

noun

  1. a broad-spectrum antibiotic used against Gram-negative bacteria. It is effective against anthrax

"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

ciprofloxacin Scientific  
/ sĭp′rō-flŏksə-sĭn /
  1. A synthetic antibiotic with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, used mostly to treat skin, urinary tract, and respiratory tract infections.


Etymology

Origin of ciprofloxacin

First recorded in 1980–85; perhaps from cy(clo)pro(pane) ( def. ) + fl(uoro)- ( def. ) + ox(y)- 2 ( def. ) -(my)cin ( def. )

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.

As gut bacteria adapt to chemical pollutants, some appear to develop resistance to antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2025

When I described the problem with ciprofloxacin, I was told it didn’t count.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

We also detected resistance to last-resort drugs such as ciprofloxacin.

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2023

Be careful consuming dairy-rich products such as milk, yogurt or cheese while taking such antibiotics as tetracycline, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin.

From Washington Post • Dec. 3, 2021

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, “Plague is a very serious illness, but is treatable with commonly available antibiotics, ”which includes streptomycin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline moxifloxacin, and chloramphenicol.

From Slate • Jul. 15, 2020

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