antibacterial

adjective an·ti·bac·te·ri·al \ ˌan-tē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl , ˌan-ˌtī- \

|Updated on: 31 Jul 2018

Definition of antibacterial

: directed or effective against bacteria

antibacterial soap

an antibacterial drug

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antibacterial

noun

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

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Recent Examples of antibacterial from the Web

Listerine contains several essential oils that have both antibacterial and antifungal activity.

— Houston Chronicle, "Old wives’ remedy helped arthritis pain," 1 July 2018
The 1990 study specifically compared tea tree oil to benzoyl peroxide, another very common antibacterial acne treatment.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "A Guide to Megan Markle’s Favorite Anti-Acne Oil," 13 July 2018
One intriguing possibility suggests that phytoncides, organic compounds with antibacterial properties emitted by trees, may be the cause.

— richard a. marini, San Antonio Express-News, "Massive new study review confirms nature nurtures your health," 12 July 2018
Think about washing your hands with antibacterial soap.

— timothy morton, The Atlantic, "The Hurricane in My Backyard," 8 July 2018
Some metals, such as gold and silver, have natural antibacterial properties and are used to coat certain solid items, such as medical implants.

— The Economist, "Making medical clothing that kills bugs," 28 June 2018
Recess, a new wellness line, offers another refreshing alternative: biodegradable single-serving wipes with antibacterial eucalyptus.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "6 Athleisure Beauty Products to Stash In Your Gym Bag This Summer," 26 June 2018
Triclosan used to be widely used in antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers marketed to consumers.

— melissa healy, Washington Post, "Triclosan wreaks havoc on the guts of mice," 8 June 2018
Carrots contain minerals that can be antibacterial, and eating them after a meal helps remove plaque and stains from teeth.

— ashleigh spitza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Crunchy carrots are a sweet bundle of nutrition," 14 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antibacterial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.