Okuzeka
Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Drug Classes

Antibiotic

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/ˌæntibaɪˈɑtɪk/nounCore term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, antibiotic means: A medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat or prevent bacterial infections; antibiotics do not work against viruses.

In Turkish: antibiyotik

How it is used

Antibiotics are grouped into classes such as penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides and quinolones. Pharmacists talk about a course of antibiotics, broad- and narrow-spectrum antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Explaining why a cold or flu does not need antibiotics is a common counselling task.

Example sentences

  1. Antibiotics won't help a viral sore throat, but these lozenges may ease the pain.

  2. He's on a seven-day course of antibiotics for a chest infection.

Common collocations

  • course of antibiotics
  • broad-spectrum antibiotic
  • prescribe antibiotics
  • antibiotic resistance
  • on antibiotics
  • drugA chemical substance that changes how the body works and is used to prevent, diagnose or treat a disease; in everyday speech it can also mean an illegal substance.
  • allergic reactionA response of the immune system to a medicine or other substance that it wrongly treats as harmful, causing signs such as a rash, itching, swelling or difficulty breathing.
  • adherenceThe extent to which a patient takes a medicine as agreed with the prescriber, at the right dose and times and for the right length of time.
  • suspensionA liquid dosage form in which fine particles of a drug are spread through a liquid without dissolving, so it must be shaken before each dose.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Drug Classes

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.