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Where does the word "antibiotic" come from? It comes from Greek anti bios, and was adopted directly into English (1940s).
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Where does the word "antibiotic" come from? It comes from Greek anti bios, and was adopted directly into English (1940s).
Antibiotic’s story begins in Greek: anti bios meant “against life.” Against life, describing a substance that destroys harmful microorganisms. It reached English by 1940s as antibiotic. Coined once penicillin and similar drugs made the concept medically real. Today, antibiotic means a medicine that destroys or inhibits the growth of bacteria.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient anti bios "against life", against life, describing a substance that destroys harmful microorganisms.
- Stage 2 · English · 1940s antibiotic "a drug that destroys or inhibits bacteria", coined once penicillin and similar drugs made the concept medically real.