Definition
As a noun, an antibiotic is a medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, helping to treat infections. As an adjective, it describes something that works against living microorganisms.
Etymology
From Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'biōtikos' meaning 'of life', from 'bios' (life). The modern medical use took off in the 20th century with drugs like penicillin.
Kelly Says
Antibiotics don’t fight viruses, only bacteria—yet many people still ask for them for colds and flu. Overusing them pressures bacteria to evolve resistance, turning our greatest medical victory into a new global problem.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አንቲባዮቲክ
an-tee-bai-oh-tik
ARالعربية
مضاد حيوي
mu-daad hay-wi
BNবাংলা
অ্যান্টিবায়োটিক
en-tee-bai-oh-tik
CACatalà
antibiòtic
an-tee-bee-oh-tik
CSČeština
antibiotikum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
DADansk
antibiotikum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
DEDeutsch
Antibiotikum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
ELΕλληνικά
αντιβιοτικό
an-tee-vee-oh-tee-koh
ESEspañol
antibiótico
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koh
FAفارسی
آنتی بیوتیک
an-tee-bee-oh-tik
FISuomi
antibiootti
an-tee-bee-oh-tee
FRFrançais
antibiotique
an-tee-bee-oh-teek
GUGU
એન્ટીબાયોટિક
en-tee-bai-oh-tik
HAHA
maganin cutar
mah-gah-neen choo-tar
HEעברית
אנטיביוטי
an-tee-bee-yoh-tee
HIहिन्दी
एंटीबायोटिक
en-tee-bai-oh-tik
HUMagyar
antibiotikum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
IDBahasa Indonesia
antibiotik
an-tee-bee-oh-tik
IGIG
ọgwụ megide ndụ
oh-gwoo meh-gee-deh ndoo
ITItaliano
antibiotico
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koh
KKKK
антибиотик
an-tee-bee-oh-teek
KMKM
ថ្នាំប្រឆាំងជីវិត
thnam prachang chee-vit
MRMR
प्रतिजैविक
prati-jai-vik
MSBahasa Melayu
antibiotik
an-tee-bee-oh-tik
MYမြန်မာ
ဆေးဝါးကြောင့်
hsay wah kyown
NLNederlands
antibioticum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
NONorsk
antibiotikum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
PAPA
ਐਂਟੀਬਾਇਓਟਿਕ
an-tee-bai-oh-tik
PLPolski
antybiotyk
an-tee-bee-oh-tik
PTPortuguês
antibiótico
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koh
RORomână
antibiotic
an-tee-bee-oh-tik
RUРусский
антибиотик
an-tee-bee-oh-teek
SVSvenska
antibiotikum
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koom
SWKiswahili
dawa ya viuavijasumu
dah-wah yah vee-oo-ah-vee-jah-soo-moo
TAதமிழ்
நுண்ணுயிர் எதிர்ப்பி
nu-nnoo-yir e-thir-pi
TEతెలుగు
యాంటీబయాటిక్
yaan-tee-bai-oh-tik
THไทย
ยาปฏิชีวนะ
yah-pa-ti-chee-wah-nah
TLTL
antibiotiko
an-tee-bee-oh-tee-koh
TRTürkçe
antibiyotik
an-tee-bee-yoh-tik
UKУкраїнська
антибіотик
an-tee-bee-oh-teek
URاردو
اینٹی بائیوٹک
an-tee-bai-oh-tik
VITiếng Việt
kháng sinh
khang sinh
YOYO
ọ̀gbọ̀n àti àìsàn
oh-gbohn ah-tee ah-e-sahn
ZUZU
isitshalo esinga bantu
ee-see-thah-loh eh-see-ngah bahn-too
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Clinical trials for antibiotics historically underrepresented women, pregnant people, and gender minorities, which affected understanding of side effects and dosing. Gendered assumptions about care-seeking also shaped who received timely antibiotic treatment.
Inclusive Usage
Discuss antibiotics using gender-neutral terms for patients and note when evidence differs by sex or pregnancy status.
Inclusive Alternatives
["antibacterial drug","infection-fighting medication"]
Empowerment Note
Women scientists were instrumental in antibiotic discovery and development, including work in microbiology and clinical testing, though they often received less public credit.