narrow-spectrum
adjective
nar·row-spec·trum
ˈnar-(ˌ)ō-ˈspek-trəm, ˈnar-ə-
: effective against only a limited range of organisms
narrow-spectrum antibiotics effective only against gram-negative bacteria
compare broad-spectrum
Cite this Entry
“Narrow-spectrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/narrow-spectrum. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
