bioactive

adjective

bio·​ac·​tive ˌbī-ō-ˈak-tiv 

: having an effect on a living organism

bioactive molecules

bioactivity

ˌbī-ō-ak-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

Examples of bioactive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ginger May Protect Against Atherosclerosis Those same bioactive compounds can also produce antioxidant effects, said Malone. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 9 May 2025

Skin is lipid-rich, and the skin microbiome processes these lipids to also produce bioactive compounds. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

Coffee Coffee is an excellent source of antioxidants with a wide variety of bioactive compounds that can help protect against harmful free radicals. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 29 Apr. 2025

Some research suggests that hot coffee may have a higher antioxidant content due to greater extraction of bioactive compounds in the hot beverage.13 Is Coffee Bad for You? —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bioactive

• attractive
• contractive
• extractive
• inactive
• proactive
• reactive
• refractive
• subtractive
• active
• tractive
• hyperactive
• interactive

Medical Definition

bioactive

adjective

bio·​ac·​tive -ˈak-tiv 

: having an effect on a living organism

bioactive molecules

bioactive pharmaceuticals and pesticides

bioactivity

-ak-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

noun

plural bioactivities