probiotic

[ proh-bahy-ot-ik ]

/ ˌproʊ baɪˈɒt ɪk /

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noun

a usually dairy food or a dietary supplement containing live bacteria that replace or add to the beneficial bacteria normally present in the gastrointestinal tract.

a bacterium in such a food or dietary supplement.

adjective

noting or pertaining to a probiotic: a probiotic yogurt drink.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of probiotic

1950-55; pro-¹ + biotic, on the model of antibiotic

Words nearby probiotic

probation officer, probative, probe, probenecid, probie, probiotic, probit, probity, problem, problematic, problematics

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use probiotic in a sentence

Peixoto and her colleagues plan to move beyond the aquarium, starting experiments in mid-August in to see whether probiotics can help wild corals.
Probiotics help lab corals survive deadly heat stress|Jonathan Lambert|August 13, 2021|Science News
With the exception of probiotics, I don’t find the evidence for any of them convincing—but it’s a very hard topic to study in the lab, so I can’t rule it out either.
How to Avoid a Mid-Race Bathroom Stop|mmirhashem|August 1, 2021|Outside Online
While the jar is efficient for making any kind of pickle, it’s especially useful for lacto-fermented vegetables in salt brine, which gives the pickles a more complex tang and infuses them with beneficial probiotics.
Forget Canning, and Get Yourself a Chinese Pickle Crock|Clarissa Wei|July 14, 2021|Eater
Other studies found that probiotic treatments can help restore depression or anxiety in mice, leading to a “gold rush” to start treating the brain with carefully-engineered yogurt slushies.
Treating the Brain Through the Stomach: Tweaking the Gut Microbiome Slowed ALS in Mice|Shelly Fan|July 13, 2021|Singularity Hub

Raw, organic, unfiltered vinegar is packed with probiotics and will make for the most active fermentation.
Homemade Shrubs Are Your Gateway to a World of Sweet, Tangy Summer Drinking|Aliza Abarbanel|July 8, 2021|Eater
But is it possible that there could be a “probiotic” that causes weight loss?
‘Good Poop’ Diet Is the Next Big Thing|Daniela Drake|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you have bad breath, gingivitis or periodontitis …A probiotic lozenge or mouthwash might be your best bet.
How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You|DailyBurn|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With some help from the experts, we put together this guide to help you find the right probiotic for you.
How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You|DailyBurn|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most common probiotic bacteria come from two genus groups: Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, although there are many others.
How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You|DailyBurn|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When this happens, adding an extra dose of good bacteria from a probiotic supplement helps bring harmony back to the belly.
How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You|DailyBurn|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for probiotic

probiotic

/ (ˌprəʊbaɪˈɒtɪk) /

noun

a harmless bacterium that helps to protect the body from harmful bacteria

a substance that encourages the growth of natural healthy bacteria in the gut

adjective

of or relating to probioticsprobiotic yogurt

Word Origin for probiotic

C20: from pro- 1 + (anti) biotic

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