antimicrobial

adjective

an·​ti·​mi·​cro·​bi·​al ˌan-ti-mī-ˈkrō-bē-əl How to pronounce antimicrobial (audio)
: destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms
antimicrobial noun

Examples of antimicrobial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The finding is significant in light of growing antimicrobial resistance, which the World Health Organization has described as a global public health threat that kills more than 4.5 million people worldwide each year. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025 That is exactly what the CDC needs right now—not just to restore its credibility, but to address complex challenges like antimicrobial resistance, mental health, and the opioid epidemic. Michael Mina, Time, 26 Mar. 2025 As antibiotics become less effective, antimicrobial resistance poses an increasing threat to public health. Nneka Vivian Iduu, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2025 Though diverse microbiomes are good in many contexts, that might not be the case here, where many of the microbes seem to be evolving and passing around genes for antimicrobial resistance. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antimicrobial

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antimicrobial was in 1883

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Cite this Entry

“Antimicrobial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antimicrobial. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

antimicrobial

1 of 2 adjective
an·​ti·​mi·​cro·​bi·​al ˌant-i-mī-ˌkrō-bē-əl How to pronounce antimicrobial (audio)
variants also antimicrobic
: destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms

antimicrobial

2 of 2 noun
variants also antimicrobic
: an antimicrobial substance
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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