antibiotic
UK: ˌæntibaɪˈɒtɪk | US: ˌæntibaɪˈɑːtɪk
n. A substance (e.g., penicillin) that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms, especially bacteria.
adj. Relating to or functioning as an antibiotic.
antibiotic = anti<against> + bio<life> + ic<adjective suffix>
- anti (from Greek anti-): Prefix meaning "against" or "opposite."
- bio (from Greek bios): Root meaning "life."
- ic (from Latin -icus): Adjective-forming suffix indicating "pertaining to."
Etymology Origin:
The term antibiotic emerged in the late 19th century, combining Greek anti- ("against") and bios ("life") to describe substances that counteract microbial life. Initially used broadly for biological antagonism, it was later specialized to refer to antimicrobial drugs after Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin (1928). The -ic suffix standardizes it as an adjective/noun in scientific terminology.
The doctor prescribed an antibiotic to treat the bacterial infection.
Overuse of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria.
This soil contains natural antibiotics produced by fungi.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern.
The study compared the efficacy of two different antibiotics.