Meaning & use
antibiotic
A medicine used to treat infections by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria.
See it in a sentence
The doctor prescribed antibiotics to clear up the ear infection.
Antibiotics have no effect on viral illnesses like the common cold.
A note on using this word
Antibiotics work only against bacteria, not viruses, so they are ineffective for colds or flu.
Words with a similar meaning
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Another way to use it
2. adjective
Relating to or capable of destroying or inhibiting bacterial growth.
The wound was cleaned with an antibiotic ointment before bandaging.
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