Microbiostatic

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. A compound that temporarily halts the proliferation of microorganisms without exterminating them
2. A material that restricts microbial growth while keeping the organisms alive and functioning
3. A substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms without eliminating them entirely

Etymology: "Microbiostatic" is built from two parts: "micro-", from Greek "mikros" meaning "small", and "biostatic", which combines "bio-", from Greek "bios" meaning "life", with "-static", from Greek "statikos" meaning "causing to stand" or "stopping". Put together, the word describes something that halts the life or growth of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, without necessarily killing them. The distinction the word carries is its main point. A microbiostatic agent holds microbes in check, stopping them from multiplying, while a microbicidal agent actually kills them. The "-static" element follows the same pattern as "hydrostatic" and "electrostatic", where it signals a condition of arrest or equilibrium rather than destruction.