Antibiotic
anti-bacterial agent
Subclass of:
Anti-Infective Agents
Definitions related to anti-bacterial agents:
  • (antibacterial) A substance that kills bacteria or stops them from growing and causing disease.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (antibacterial agent) A family of substances capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (antibacterial agent) Substance that destroys bacteria or prevents their growth or replication.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Antibacterial drugs are derived from bacteria or molds or are synthesized de novo. Technically, �antibiotic� refers only to antimicrobials derived from bacteria or molds but is often (including in THE MANUAL) used synonymously with �antibacterial drug.�
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.