Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
nonbacterial

nonbacterial

5.7
Does not come from bacteria
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈbæktɪrɪəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no bacteriano
  • Noroviruses, the leading cause of nonbacterial gastrointestinal illness in the United States, have gained recent notoriety because of several outbreaks on cruise ships.
  • nonbacterial prostatitis

Examples

  • Those with nonbacterial prostatitis have inflammation of the prostate without any sign of a bacterial infection.

  • The doctor explained that nonbacterial infections can often be difficult to diagnose and treat.

  • In what's currently labeled nonbacterial prostatitis, for example, "we find suites of organisms," he says.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Patients suffering from nonbacterial gastrointestinal issues may experience symptoms similar to those caused by bacteria.

Antonyms

bacterial
46 3.4

Connected with tiny living things that can make you ill

How Bacterial

bacterial
46 3.4
bacterioid
  • Specialized
9.6
nonbacterial
  • Specialized
5.7

Surface Forms

nonbacterial positive

Morphology

nonbacterial = bacterial (transparent) = non + bacteria + al

The target is formed by straightforward prefixation of 'non-' to the adjective 'bacterial', making a clear negation.

Etymology

Nonbacterial combines the prefix non- meaning 'not' with bacterial from bacteria, which are 'tiny living things' that can cause infections, so nonbacterial means 'not caused by bacteria'.