streptomycin

noun

strep·​to·​my·​cin ˌstrep-tə-ˈmī-sᵊn How to pronounce streptomycin (audio)
: an antibiotic organic base C21H39N7O12 that is produced by a soil actinomycete (Streptomyces griseus), is active against many bacteria, and is used especially in the treatment of infections (such as tuberculosis) by gram-negative bacteria

Examples of streptomycin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Many natural products have already been extracted from them, including the antibiotic streptomycin, an essential medicine discovered in the 1940s. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 For a few months, before production could scale up, Hinshaw’s San Francisco laboratory held the world’s entire supply of streptomycin, and pleas for the miracle drug poured in from the afflicted from Siberia to Tierra del Fuego. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Life-threatening infection led to the removal of a kidney and his treatment with what was then an experimental antibiotic, streptomycin, initially used to treat tuberculosis. Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2021 Laboratory testing found that 20 of these cases were resistant to common antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 25 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for streptomycin

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of streptomycin was in 1944

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Cite this Entry

“Streptomycin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streptomycin. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

streptomycin

noun
strep·​to·​my·​cin ˌstrep-tə-ˈmīs-ᵊn How to pronounce streptomycin (audio)
: an antibiotic produced by a soil streptomyces and used especially in the treatment of some infections (as tuberculosis) caused by bacteria

Medical Definition

streptomycin

noun
strep·​to·​my·​cin -ˈmīs-ᵊn How to pronounce streptomycin (audio)
: an antibiotic organic base C21H39N7O12 that is produced by a soil actinomycete of the genus Streptomyces (S. griseus), is active against bacteria, and is used especially in the treatment of infections (as tuberculosis) by gram-negative bacteria

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