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Meaning & use

antibiotic

noun, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌæntibaɪˈɒtɪk/
US/ˌæntibaɪˈɑːtɪk/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat infections.

    Grammar: Countable; you take an antibiotic or a course of antibiotics.

    Patterns

    • take antibiotics
    • prescribe an antibiotic
    • be on antibiotics
    • a course of antibiotics

    The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics for the throat infection.

    You should finish all the antibiotics even if you feel better.

    Overuse of antibiotics can make bacteria resistant.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Relating to antibiotics or able to kill bacteria.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: antibiotic cream, antibiotic resistance.

    Patterns

    • antibiotic cream
    • antibiotic resistance
    • antibiotic treatment

    She applied an antibiotic cream to the cut.

    Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health problem.

    The patient needed antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.

Word forms

pluralantibiotics

Common combinations

take antibiotics
He has to take antibiotics twice a day.
prescribe antibiotics
Doctors should not prescribe antibiotics for viral infections.
antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change and survive treatment.
course of antibiotics
She is halfway through a course of antibiotics.
broad-spectrum antibiotic
A broad-spectrum antibiotic works against many types of bacteria.

Synonyms and how they differ

medicine
A general term for any drug; antibiotic is specific to bacterial infections.
antibacterial
Antibacterial describes something that kills bacteria, often used for products; antibiotic is usually a medicine taken internally.

Word family

antibiosis noun
An association between organisms in which one is harmed by a substance produced by the other.

Commonly confused: antibiotic or antiviral? antibiotic or probiotic?

antibiotic vs antiviral

Antiviral medicines treat viruses; antibiotics treat bacteria. They are not interchangeable.

antibiotic vs probiotic

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, often taken as supplements; antibiotics kill bacteria.

Practice

You should not take antibiotics for a common cold because:

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