Definition of Disinfectant

1. Noun. An agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease.

Exact synonyms: Antimicrobial, Antimicrobic, Germicide
Generic synonyms: Agent
Specialized synonyms: Cetrimide, Sodium Hypochlorite
Derivative terms: Antimicrobial, Antimicrobic, Disinfect, Germicidal

2. Adjective. Preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms.
Exact synonyms: Bactericidal, Germicidal
Similar to: Antiseptic
Derivative terms: Bactericide, Bactericide, Disinfect, Germicide

Definition of Disinfectant

1. n. That which disinfects; an agent for removing the causes of infection, as chlorine.

Definition of Disinfectant

1. Adjective. Referring to something that contains a disinfectant or has the properties of a disinfectant. ¹

2. Noun. A substance which kills germs and/or viruses. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Disinfectant

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Disinfectant

1. An agent that disinfects, applied particularly to agents used on inanimate objects. Compare: antiseptic. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Disinfectant

disincline
disinclined
disinclines
disinclining
disinclose
disinclosed
disincloses
disinclosing
disincorporate
disincorporated
disincorporates
disincorporating
disincorporation
disincorporations
disinfect
disinfectant
disinfectants
disinfectation
disinfected
disinfecting
disinfection
disinfections
disinfector
disinfectors
disinfects
disinfest
disinfestant
disinfestants
disinfestation
disinfestation officer

Literary usage of Disinfectant

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of Applied Chemistry by Thomas Edward Thorpe (1921)
"(1) Absorption of cations (ionic disinfectant«) with simultaneous anión absorption, which may affect the activity. (3) Mutual action between bacteria and ..."

2. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1899)
"Urotropin as a Urinary Disinfectant. ... January, 1890) reports the result of the use of urotropin as a disinfectant for the urine in typhoid fever. ..."

3. Public Health by Society of Community Medicine (Great Britain), Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene (Great Britain), Society of Medical Officers of Health, Society of Community Medicine (1891)
"The resulting blue solution is described as a very strong disinfectant. ... The preparation called the "St. Bede Disinfectant" has most powerful ..."

4. The Retrospect of Practical Medicine and Surgery: Being a Half-yearly edited by William Braithwaite, James Braithwaite, Edmond Fauriel Trevelyan (1864)
"For all these purposes, for which a liquid disinfectant is convenient, I believe my professional brethren will find the tincture of iodine the most ..."

5. Lessons and Laboratory Exercises in Bacteriology: An Outline of Technical by Allen John Smith (1902)
"Determination of Disinfectant Values.—The greatest dilution of a given substance placed in excess in contact with a given bacterium for the shortest action ..."

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