antimicrobial

American  

[an-tee-mahy-kroh-bee-uhl, an-tahy‑] / ˌæn ti maɪˈkroʊ bi əl, ˌæn taɪ‑ /

adjective

1. destructive to or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

   an antimicrobial spray to stop the spread of athlete’s foot in the locker room; antimicrobial ointments that suppress the cold sore virus.

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noun

1. an antimicrobial product. Antimicrobials are generally regulated into two categories—those used on inanimate objects, as wipes for kitchen counters, and those used in or on living things, as antibiotics or hand sanitizers.

   Any product that kills bacteria or viruses is an antimicrobial, but that doesn’t mean any antimicrobial will kill both bacteria and viruses.

antimicrobial British  

/ ˌæntɪmaɪˈkrəʊbɪəl /

adjective

1. capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microbes

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Etymology

Origin of antimicrobial

First recorded in 1900–05; anti- + microbial

Compare meaning

How does antimicrobial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• antimicrobial vs. antibacterial

Example Sentences

After multiple GP and hospital visits, on 15 August antibiotics were prescribed "but not in line with St Helier Hospital's antimicrobial guidelines," the coroner wrote.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

Nowadays, the industry uses more effective cleaners, such as peracetic acid, a kind of all-purpose antimicrobial agent used in hospital cleaners, produce washes, and meat processing.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026

"This information will be particularly valuable in low-resource settings, where E. coli infections of diabetic foot ulcers are more common and where rapid diagnostic tools for antimicrobial resistance are not always readily available," he said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

The new approach, known as "antimicrobial single-cell testing," uses advanced microscopy to observe millions of individual bacteria across thousands of different test conditions.

From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2026

The insects convert them into aglycones, which no longer contain sugar molecules and have much stronger antimicrobial effects.

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026