probiotic
probiotic Lexical Profile
probiotic Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A live microorganism (such as a bacterium or yeast), or a dietary supplement or food product containing such microorganisms, consumed to maintain or restore beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
"Her doctor recommended taking a daily probiotic after she finished her course of antibiotics."
• adjective
Relating to, containing, or promoting the growth of live microorganisms that provide health benefits to the host, especially by maintaining or restoring beneficial gut flora.
"Fermented foods like kefir and kimchi are prized for their probiotic properties."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'probiotic' (live beneficial microorganisms themselves) with 'prebiotic' (indigestible dietary fibers that nourish and stimulate the growth of those beneficial microorganisms in the gut).
• Rhymes for probiotic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as an antonym to 'antibiotic', combining the Latin prefix 'pro-' (for, in favor of) with Ancient Greek 'biōtikos' (pertaining to life), from 'bios' (life).