Meaning & use
antiseptic
Preventing infection by destroying or inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms on the skin or a wound.
See it in a sentence
The nurse cleaned the cut with an antiseptic solution before applying the bandage.
He kept a small bottle of antiseptic wipes in his hiking pack for emergencies.
A note on using this word
Antiseptic is used on living tissue like skin, whereas disinfectant is generally used on surfaces and objects.
Words with a similar meaning
disinfectant
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A substance used on skin or wounds to prevent infection.
She dabbed antiseptic on the scraped knee before covering it with a plaster.
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