Word
antimicrobial
Phoneticsan·timi·cro·bial
UK/ˌæntɪmaɪkɹˈəʊbɪəl/
Definition
adj. describing something that can kill or stop the growth of tiny living things like bacteria, viruses, or fungi. You often see this word on soaps or cleaning products.
adj. capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Often used attributively to describe substances, agents, or coatings.
Examples
“This soap has antimicrobial properties to help keep you healthy.”
“Hospitals use antimicrobial coatings on door handles to reduce the spread of infections between patients and staff.”
“The rapid evolution of resistant strains has forced researchers to develop novel antimicrobial compounds that target the cellular machinery of pathogens in ways that traditional antibiotics cannot.”
Examples
simple
“This soap has antimicrobial properties to help keep you healthy.”
contextual
“Hospitals use antimicrobial coatings on door handles to reduce the spread of infections between patients and staff.”
complex
“The rapid evolution of resistant strains has forced researchers to develop novel antimicrobial compounds that target the cellular machinery of pathogens in ways that traditional antibiotics cannot.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often used in medical, scientific, or industrial contexts.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“To address this problem, scientists are developing new ways to treat infected wounds using specially designed nanomaterials that are activated with light and deliver precise antimicrobial action.” “Researchers have identified a broad range of biological properties of pomegranate with potential medical applications, including antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, liver-supporting and wound-healing effects.” Etymology
From anti- + microbe + -ial.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/antimicrobial