antibiotic

1 of 2

noun

an·​ti·​bi·​ot·​ic

ˌan-tē-bī-ˈä-tik,

-ˌtī-  -bē-ˈä- 

: a substance able to inhibit or kill microorganisms

specifically : an antibacterial substance (such as penicillin, cephalosporin, and ciprofloxacin) that is used to treat or prevent infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria in or on the body, that is administered orally, topically, or by injection, and that is isolated from cultures of certain microorganisms (such as fungi) or is of semi-synthetic or synthetic origin

Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include muscle aches, fever, cramps and diarrhea leading to gastrointestinal illness, which can be treated with antibiotics.

—Chicago Daily Herald

Another way to produce new variants of established antibiotics is to use genetic engineering to alter the biochemical pathways of the microbes that produce them.

—New Scientist

Experts agree that by spiking animal feed with antibiotics, conventional farmers are speeding the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

—Geoffrey Cowley

Note: While antibiotics are effective mainly against bacteria, they are sometimes used to treat protozoal infections. Some consider antibiotics to include only those derived fully or partly from microorganisms and exclude synthetic forms from this class of drugs.

antibiotic

2 of 2

adjective

1

: tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life

2

: of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis

antibiotic drugs

antibiotically

ˌan-tē-bī-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē

ˌan-ˌtī- 

-bē-ˈä-

adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

She was taken to the Humane Society’s Escondido campus, where she was given pain medication, fluids, antibiotics, food and warmth. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2023

What makes Diestel different is their commitment to raising the most delicious birds, with no antibiotics, growth stimulants, or hormones, and are fed a 100% vegetarian diet (meaning no animal by-products). —Ashley Martens, redbookmag.com, 10 May 2023

That said, a dermatologist can treat symptoms and contain especially bad flare ups with topical and oral antibiotics, topical vasoconstrictors, or medications. —Women's Health, 2 May 2023

Pure Encapsulations Colostrum is derived from cows that are free from antibiotics and hormones and is minimally processed to retain its natural nutrients. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2023

Exposing Vibrio to an antibiotic for a long enough time would eventually kill it. —Megan Keller, Fortune Well, 12 Apr. 2023

Diagnosis and Treatment Doctors diagnose babesiosis through a blood test, and are eventually treated with a combination of antibiotics and antimalarial drugs. —Emily Washburn, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023

Ainslie pointed to the ease of access to prescription drugs, including pain medications and antibiotics. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2023

Farmers stopped injecting chicken eggs with antibiotics to prevent new chicks from catching an infection from microbes on the egg. —The Editors, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2023

Adjective

For example, if the culprit is some type of an infection, the treatment is typically some type of antibiotic. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 May 2023

Folliculitis should clear up with antibiotic cream. —Korin Miller, Women's Health, 2 May 2023

Overusing antibiotics might lead to antibiotic resistance, where antibiotics no longer work against the bacteria they are supposed to help the body get rid of. —Amanda Gardner, Health, 25 Apr. 2023

Tolerance has been linked to the spread of antibiotic resistance. —Megan Keller, Fortune Well, 12 Apr. 2023

Accutane comes with no shortage of health warnings, and antibiotics can damage your skin's microbiome and create antibiotic resistance in the body. —Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 6 Apr. 2023

The kit includes medical essentials like bandages of various sizes, antibiotic ointment, sterile non-woven sponges, antiseptic wipes, moleskin, and AfterBite wipes for insect bites. —Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2023

He was later diagnosed with bronchitis and showed rapid improvement after receiving antibiotic infusion treatment. —Timothy Nerozzi, Fox News, 1 Apr. 2023

Most drugs in short supply are older generic medicines that are relatively inexpensive to purchase but complex to manufacture: the pain reliever acetaminophen, the antibiotic amoxicillin, and IV saline solution, for example. —Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of antibiotic entry 2

Note: Noun use of the adjective antibiotic probably began in the early 1940's, preceded by the frequent collocation antibiotic substance, but was not common before Selman waksman's paper "What Is an Antibiotic or an Antibiotic Substance?" (Mycologia, vol. 39, no. 5 [September-October, 1947]). Waksman has been credited with coining antibiotic, though he does not claim to have done so, and in fact gives an account of the earlier history of the word in this article.

Adjective

borrowed from French antibiotique, derivative of antibiose antibiosis (after symbiose symbiosis : symbiotique symbiotic)

Note: See note at antibiosis.

First Known Use

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

antibiotic

noun

an·​ti·​bi·​ot·​ic

ˌant-i-bī-ˈät-ik,

ˌan-ˌtī-,

ˌant-i-bē-

: a substance produced by an organism (as a fungus or bacterium) that in dilute solution inhibits or kills a harmful microscopic plant or animal and especially one that causes disease

antibiotic adjective

Medical Definition

antibiotic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti·​bi·​ot·​ic -bī-ˈät-ik; -bē- 

1

: tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life

2

: of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis

antibiotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

antibiotic

2 of 2 noun

: a substance able to inhibit or kill microorganisms

specifically an antibacterial substance (as penicillin, cephalosporin, and ciprofloxacin) that is used to treat or prevent infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria in or on the body, that is administered orally, topically, or by injection, and that is isolated from cultures of certain microorganisms (as fungi) or is of semi-synthetic or synthetic origin

Note: While antibiotics are effective mainly against bacteria, they are sometimes used to treat protozoal infections. Some consider antibiotics to include only those derived fully or partly from microorganisms and exclude synthetic forms from this class of drugs.