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Definition of bactericide

bactericide

/bækˈtɪə.ɹɪ.saɪd/
bac · te · ri · cide
Adverb:bactericidally
•
Plural:bactericides
•
Adjective:bactericidal
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bactericide Lexical Profile

bactericide Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A chemical substance, drug, or physical agent that destroys and kills bacteria.

Example

"The hospital uses a potent bactericide to sterilize surgical instruments before every procedure."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bactericide

Word Nuance & Usage

In microbiology and pharmacology, a 'bactericide' specifically destroys and kills bacteria, whereas a 'bacteriostat' merely inhibits their reproduction without directly killing them.

• Nearby Words

bacon
bacopa
bacterial
bactericide
bacterium
bactrian camel
bacuri

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century from Modern Latin 'bacterium' (derived from Ancient Greek 'bakterion', meaning 'small staff' or 'rod') combined with the Latin suffix '-cida' (meaning 'killer' or 'cutter', from 'caedere', 'to strike down' or 'to kill').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bactericide. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bactericide
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