antimicrobial

Meanings

Plural: antimicrobials

Noun

• an agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease
• An agent (drug or other substance) that destroys microbes (i.e., kills off a population of them).
• An agent (drug or other substance) that inhibits the growth of microbes but does not kill their whole population.
• An agent (drug or other substance) that counteracts the pathogenic action of microbes.

Adjective Satellite

• capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microorganisms

Adj

• Tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes.
• Inhibiting the growth of microbes.
• Preventing or counteracting the pathogenic action of microbes.

Synonyms

antimicrobic, disinfectant, germicide, microbiostatic