bacteriostatic

[ bak-teer-ee-uh-stat-ik ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or aiding the prevention of further growth of bacteria:

   Aloe has a bacteriostatic effect on many groups of microbes, such as diphtheria, streptococcus, dysentery, and typhoid.

Other Words From

• bac·te·ri·o·stat·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bacteriostatic¹

First recorded in 1910–15; bacteri- ( def ) + -o- ( def ) + static ( def )

Example Sentences

However, conventional antibiotics are generally bacteriostatic or bactericidal, which means that they indiscriminately kill or prevent the growth of both pathogenic and beneficial microbes.

From Nature

That's not just folklore, O'Leary says: "There's pretty good data that there's something in cranberry, the fruit and the juice, that is bacteriostatic – that prevents the growth of bacteria."

From US News

For instance, the bacteriostatic silver nanoparticles used in socks to reduce foot odor are released in the wash and enter the waste water stream.

From Forbes

The deleterious effects of bactericidal antibiotics were alleviated in cell culture and in mice by the administration of the antioxidant N-acetyl--cysteine or prevented by preferential use of bacteriostatic antibiotics.

From Science Magazine

Technicians spray these with a bacteriostatic shield that repels contaminants from sticking to anything in the room.

From US News