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🦠 A germ killer 🦠 Germ-killing
antimicrobic

antimicrobic

6.9
A thing like heat, light or a chemical that kills germs and prevents their growth
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈmaɪkroʊbɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : antimicrobiano
  • The hospital uses a powerful antimicrobic to sterilize surgical instruments.

Examples

  • The new toothpaste contains an antimicrobic to help prevent gum disease.

  • Exposure to ultraviolet light acts as an effective antimicrobic in water purification systems.

  • The doctor prescribed an antimicrobic to treat the infection.

  • Many antimicrobics are effective against bacterial infections.

  • The hospital uses a powerful antimicrobic to sterilize surgical instruments.

  • Exposure to ultraviolet light acts as an effective antimicrobic in water purification systems.

  • The new toothpaste contains an antimicrobic to help prevent gum disease.

Synonyms

microbicide
vsantimicrobic
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A substance that kills germs like bacteria and viruses to prevent infection

is not limited to infection prevention and applies to many agent types
germicide
vsantimicrobic
  • Specialized
1 7.1

A substance that kills germs that can make people sick

also covers agents that inhibit growth rather than only killing
antimicrobial
vsantimicrobic
  • Specialized
5.3

A substance that kills or stops the growth of germs that cause disease

includes nonchemical agents like heat and radiation and covers all microorganisms

How Antimicrobic

sterilant
  • Specialized
1 7.2
disinfectant
23 3.1
antimicrobic
  • Specialized
6.9
antiseptic
  • Specialized
3 3.7
inert
  • Specialized
14 5.9

Surface Forms

antimicrobic singular
antimicrobics plural

Morphology

antimicrobic = microbic (semi-transparent) = anti + microbe + ic

The word is built transparently from anti- + microbic, but the noun sense is a technical label rather than a fully everyday meaning.

Etymology

Antimicrobic comes from the prefix anti- meaning 'against' and microbe meaning 'tiny life', the same 'micro' you see in microscope. So an antimicrobic is something used to fight or stop germs and other tiny living things, which is why it kills or prevents microorganisms.