amikacin

A1M3I1K5A1C3I1N1
US/ˌæm.ɪˈkeɪ.sn̩/

noun

A semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic that is derived from kanamycin and is administered intravenously or intramuscularly in the form of its sulfate C₂₂H₄₃N₅O₁₃·2 H₂SO₄ to treat serious bacterial infections.

OriginEnglish ami(no)- ← Latin ammoniacus ← Ancient Greek Ᾰ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn) →
UncommonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounamikacin (countable and uncountable, plural amikacins)

plural amikacins

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic that is derived from kanamycin and is administered intravenously or intramuscularly in the form of its sulfate C₂₂H₄₃N₅O₁₃·2 H₂SO₄ to treat serious bacterial infections.

    XDR-TB is defined as tuberculosis that is resistant to the two most important antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid and rifampin), along with […] a member of the fluoroquinolone class and at least one of three others (capreomycin, kanamycin and amikacin).

    2007 March 20, Lawrence K. Altman, “Rise of a Deadly TB Reveals a Global System in Crisis”, in New York Times

Origin

  1. Egyptianjmn
  2. Ancient GreekᾸ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)
  3. LatinAmmōn
  4. Latinammoniacus
  5. Englishammonia
  6. Englishamine
  7. Englishami(no)-
  8. Englishamikacin

From ami(no)- + -kacin (“kanamycin and bekanamycin derivative”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish amikasiini
  • amikasiiniTranslations
Polish amikacyna
  • amikacynaTranslations
Portuguese amicacina
  • amicacinaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

amikacin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amikacin

MLA

“amikacin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amikacin. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “amikacin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amikacin.

Source: amikacin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.