bacteriostat

noun

bac·​te·​ri·​o·​stat bak-ˈtir-ē-ō-ˌstat How to pronounce bacteriostat (audio)
: an agent that causes bacteriostasis
bacteriostatic
bak-ˌtir-ē-ō-ˈsta-tik How to pronounce bacteriostat (audio)
adjective

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacteriostat was in 1920

Rhymes for bacteriostat

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Browse Nearby Words

bacteriostasis
bacteriostat
bacteriotome
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Cite this Entry

“Bacteriostat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacteriostat. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

bacteriostat

noun
bac·​te·​ri·​o·​stat -ˈtir-ē-ō-ˌstat How to pronounce bacteriostat (audio)
variants also bacteriostatic
-ˌtir-ē-ō-ˈstat-ik How to pronounce bacteriostat (audio)
: an agent that causes bacteriostasis
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