Antibiotic

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˌæn.ti.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/, /ˌæn.taɪ.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/
• US IPA: /ˌæn.taɪ.baɪˈɑ.tɪk/, /ˌæn.tÉ™.baɪˈɑ.tɪk/
• Rhymes: -É’tɪk

Origin

From French antibiotique, coined in 1889 by P. Vuillemin from anti- and biotique, from Ancient Greek βιωτικός (biōtikós, "concerning or relating to life") (from βίος (bíos, "life"), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeih₃w- ("to live")), perhaps influenced by ἀντίβιος ("opposed").

Full definition of antibiotic

Noun

1. (pharmacology) Any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms.

Derived terms

• antibioticked

Hyponyms

Adjective

1. (pharmacology) Of or relating to antibiotics.
2. (obsolete) Of or relating to the theory that extraterrestrial life does not exist.