Definition

Describing a substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria without killing them.

Example

The doctor prescribed a bacteriostatic medication to help control the infection.

Conversation

I read that some medications are bacteriostatic rather than bacteriocidal.

Oh really? What's the difference between the two?

Well, bacteriostatic drugs stop bacteria from growing without killing them.

That makes sense! They can be really useful in treating infections.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bacteriostatic → It is formed from "bacterium" (from Greek "bakterion", meaning rod or staff, referring to the shape of certain bacteria) and "static" (from Greek "statis", meaning standing or stopping). The word describes a substance that stops the growth of bacteria without killing them, effectively making them 'stand still'.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bacterium' as referring to tiny organisms that can grow, and 'static' meaning to stop or stand still — this helps you remember that 'bacteriostatic' refers to something that halts bacterial growth.

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