bacteriocin

noun

bac·​te·​ri·​o·​cin bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-sən How to pronounce bacteriocin (audio)
: an antibiotic (such as colicin) produced by bacteria

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary bacteri- + -cin (as in colicin)

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacteriocin was in 1954

Rhymes for bacteriocin

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Browse Nearby Words

bacteriochlorophyll
bacteriocin
bacteriocyte
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Cite this Entry

“Bacteriocin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacteriocin. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

bacteriocin

noun
bac·​te·​ri·​o·​cin bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-sən How to pronounce bacteriocin (audio)
: an antibiotic (as colicin) produced by bacteria
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