Meaning & use
antibacterial
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Able to kill bacteria or stop them from growing.
Grammar: Usually not compared; you don't say 'more antibacterial'.
Patterns
- antibacterial soap
- antibacterial properties
- antibacterial agent
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap to reduce the spread of germs.
This cream has antibacterial properties and helps heal minor cuts.
The doctor prescribed an antibacterial treatment for the skin infection.
Common combinations
- antibacterial soap
- She bought antibacterial soap for the kitchen.
- antibacterial properties
- Honey has natural antibacterial properties.
- antibacterial agent
- The lab tested a new antibacterial agent against resistant strains.
- antibacterial product
- Many antibacterial products are no better than plain soap.
Synonyms and how they differ
- antiseptic
- Antiseptic kills germs on living tissue, while antibacterial specifically targets bacteria and can be used on surfaces or in medicines.
- germ-killing
- A general everyday term; antibacterial is more precise and used in medical contexts.
Word family
- antibiotic noun
- A medicine that kills bacteria inside the body.
- bacteria noun
- Plural of bacterium; microscopic single-celled organisms.
Commonly confused: antibacterial or antiviral?
antibacterial vs antiviral
Antiviral works against viruses, while antibacterial works against bacteria. They are not interchangeable.
Practice
Which of these is an example of an antibacterial product?
Choose one answer.
Antibacterial products target bacteria. A flu vaccine prevents a virus, a painkiller relieves pain, and a vitamin supplement provides nutrients; none are antibacterial.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “antibacterial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.