Definition

A type of medicine that fights infections caused by bacteria. It is often used to treat various infections and is derived from a group of antibiotics known as tetracyclines.

Example

The doctor prescribed doxycycline to treat my bacterial infection.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of doxycycline?

Yeah, I think it's an antibiotic, right?

Exactly! I read that it's often used to prevent traveler’s diarrhea.

That sounds useful, especially for trips abroad!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Doxycycline is derived from 'doxy-' (from the Greek 'doxa', meaning opinion or belief) and 'cycline' (from the Greek 'kyklos', meaning circle). The term 'doxycycline' refers to a member of the tetracycline class of antibiotics, which are often used to treat infections and are named for their cyclic structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'doxy-' relating to 'opinion' or 'belief' and 'cycline' indicating a 'circular' structure, which helps you remember that doxycycline is a type of antibiotic with a specific chemical structure.

Visually Confused Words