antibacterial

adjective

an·​ti·​bac·​te·​ri·​al ˌan-tē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl  ˌan-ˌtī- 

: directed or effective against bacteria

antibacterial soap

an antibacterial drug

antibacterial noun

In an effort to develop new antifungals, scientists are boning up on previous research on antibacterials.

—Ellen Licking

Examples of antibacterial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The magic ingredient is hypochlorous acid, an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compound that occurs naturally in the body, supporting the skin barrier with daily use. —Esme Benjamin, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

The patch's backbone is made of hyaluronic acid—a gooey polymer that's a common skincare ingredient—mixed with either antibacterial agents (including salicylic acid and Cannabis sativa extract) or anti-inflammatory agents (including niacinamide and chamomile extract). —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025

It’s also beloved for balancing skin pH, soothing sunburns, and antibacterial properties. —Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025

Hsu crafts her treatments using homemade shower oil with jojoba oil which is packed with antibacterial and antioxidant properties plus vitamin E for skin repair and oat, which delivers gentle exfoliation while soothing irritation. —Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antibacterial

• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• arterial
• bacterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• imperial
• material
• sidereal
• venereal
• cereal
• virial

Kids Definition

antibacterial

adjective

an·​ti·​bac·​te·​ri·​al

ˌant-ē-ˌbak-ˈtir-ē-əl,

ˌan-ˌtī-ˌbak-

: directed or effective against bacteria

antibacterial soap

Medical Definition

antibacterial

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti·​bac·​te·​ri·​al ˌant-i-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl  ˌan-ˌtī- 

: directed or effective against bacteria

antibacterial

2 of 2 noun

: an antibacterial agent