antibacterial
adjective
an·ti·bac·te·ri·al
ˌan-tē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 
ˌan-ˌtī-
ˌan-ˌtī-
: directed or effective against bacteria
antibacterial soap
an antibacterial drug
antibacterial
noun
In an effort to develop new antifungals, scientists are boning up on previous research on antibacterials.
—
Ellen Licking
Ellen Licking
Examples of antibacterial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Use a solution of dish soap and water, antibacterial wipes, or an all-purpose cleaner to sanitize the hamper's surface.
—Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2025
Keep scrolling for her other suggestions below, including life-saving emergency tourniquets and travel-sized antibacterial soap sheets, starting at just $8.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2025
Clarithromycin, an antibacterial drug, has no effect on viruses like measles but can be used by doctors to treat coinfections from some bacterial pneumonias that sometimes develop in infected children, Campbell said.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
SkinMedica also swaps astringent alcohol for witch hazel extract, which has antibacterial and exfoliating benefits for smoother, softer, and bouncier skin.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antibacterial
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Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2025
Keep scrolling for her other suggestions below, including life-saving emergency tourniquets and travel-sized antibacterial soap sheets, starting at just $8.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2025
Clarithromycin, an antibacterial drug, has no effect on viruses like measles but can be used by doctors to treat coinfections from some bacterial pneumonias that sometimes develop in infected children, Campbell said.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
SkinMedica also swaps astringent alcohol for witch hazel extract, which has antibacterial and exfoliating benefits for smoother, softer, and bouncier skin.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antibacterial
Cite this Entry
“Antibacterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antibacterial. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
antibacterial
1 of 2 adjective
an·ti·bac·te·ri·al
ˌant-i-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl
ˌan-ˌtī-
ˌan-ˌtī-
: directed or effective against bacteria
antibacterial
2 of 2 noun
: an antibacterial agent
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