antiseptic
n. C / Un. a substance that kills germs on the skin or in a wound to prevent infection. It is also used to describe a place that is very clean and has no smell.
n. a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms on living tissue. In a figurative sense, it describes an environment or atmosphere that is sterile and devoid of character or emotion.
The nurse cleaned the cut with an antiseptic.
After the surgery, the patient was moved to a room treated with a strong antiseptic to prevent any bacterial growth.
The hospital corridor had a cold, antiseptic smell that made the visitors feel like they were entering a world where human warmth had been entirely replaced by clinical efficiency.
From anti- + septic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 25, 2026