probiotic

noun

pro·​bi·​ot·​ic prō-bī-ˈä-tik 

-bē-ˈä-

: a microorganism (such as lactobacillus) that when consumed (as in a food or a dietary supplement) maintains or restores beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract

also : a product or preparation that contains such microorganisms compare prebiotic

probiotic adjective

Examples of probiotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Early users include film studio A24, online learning startup Class and probiotics company Seed Health. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

The final mix includes botanicals, minerals, and vitamins such as holy basil for stress response, curcumin to promote a healthy immune response, konjac root to address oil production, and probiotics to optimize the microbiome. —Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

Interventions ranging from probiotics and dietary fibers to more advanced treatments, such as microbiome transplants, are being studied as ways to restore a healthy balance and, in turn, reduce systemic inflammation. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Still, as part of a healthy diet, probiotics may be worth a try for adults struggling to regulate their bowel movements. —Patricia Weiser, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

pro- entry 2 + -biotic (as in antibiotic)

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for probiotic

• abiotic
• aeronautic
• apoptotic
• asymptotic
• cyanotic
• eukaryotic
• idiotic
• meiotic
• patriotic
• prebiotic
• prokaryotic
• semiotic

Medical Definition

probiotic

noun

pro·​bi·​ot·​ic prō-bī-ˈät-ik, -bē- 

: a microorganism (such as lactobacillus or bifidobacterium) that when consumed (as in a food or a dietary supplement) maintains or restores beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract

also : a product or preparation that contains such microorganisms compare prebiotic

probiotic adjective