Definition

A man-made antibiotic that is similar to penicillin and is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria that can resist penicillin.

Example

The doctor prescribed methicillin to treat the patient's infection.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new antibiotic called methicillin?

Yeah, I read that it's effective against certain staph infections.

I wonder how it compares to regular penicillin.

It's supposed to work better for those bacteria that resist penicillin.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Methicillin → It is formed from "meth" (a prefix derived from the chemical name for a methyl group, indicating one carbon atom) and "cillin" (from penicillin, which is derived from the Latin "penicillium", meaning a type of mold). The word refers to a specific type of antibiotic that is a derivative of penicillin, designed to combat certain bacterial infections.

Memory Tip

Think of 'meth' as indicating a single carbon atom and 'cillin' as relating to penicillin, which helps you remember that methicillin is a type of antibiotic derived from penicillin.

Visually Confused Words