antimicrobial

adj

1. (not-comparable)Tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes.
2. (not-comparable)Inhibiting the growth of microbes.
3. (not-comparable)Preventing or counteracting the pathogenic action of microbes.

noun

1. An agent (drug or other substance) that destroys microbes (i.e., kills off a population of them).
2. An agent (drug or other substance) that inhibits the growth of microbes but does not kill their whole population.
3. An agent (drug or other substance) that counteracts the pathogenic action of microbes.