Definition

A type of antibiotic that is made from penicillin and is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria.

Example

The doctor prescribed cloxacillin to help fight the infection.

Conversation

Have you heard about cloxacillin?

Yeah, I read it’s good for treating certain infections.

I was curious if it really works against staph infections.

It does, especially for those that secrete beta-lactamase.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cloxacillin is formed from 'cloxa-' (a modification of 'cloxacillin' which is derived from 'cloxacillin' itself, a semisynthetic penicillin) and '-cillin' (from 'penicillin', which is derived from the mold Penicillium). The word refers to a specific type of antibiotic that is effective against certain bacteria.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cloxa-' as a specific type of antibiotic and '-cillin' as relating to penicillin, which helps you remember that cloxacillin is a type of antibiotic.

Visually Confused Words