Antibiotic

noun; also adjective

/ˌæntɪbaɪˈɒtɪk/

A substance, originally produced by microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria, that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria — ineffective against viruses.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The unregulated, over-the-counter sale of antibiotics in India has accelerated antimicrobial resistance, transforming a once-routine infection into a looming public-health crisis that demands stringent regulation under the National Action Plan.

Synonyms

antibacterialantimicrobialbactericideanti-infectivegermicide

Antonyms

probioticprebiotic

🌱 Word Family

antibiotic (n/adj), antibiotics (n pl), antibiosis (n), probiotic (n/adj), antibiotic-resistant (adj)

🔡 Root

Greek anti- = against + bios = life → biōtikos = fit for life; French antibiotique (1850s/1940s)

📜 Etymology

From French antibiotique, from anti- (against) + Greek biōtikos (fit for life, from bios, life); first used in English in the 1850s, with modern medical usage from the 1940s following the development of penicillin.

🧠 Memory Hook

Anti (against) + bio (life): an antibiotic works "against the life" of harmful bacteria, killing them off.

⚗️ General Science 📖 Seen in: Microorganisms, Immunology & Vaccines

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