bacitracin

B3A1C3I1T1R1A1C3I1N1
/ˌbæs.ɪˈtɹeɪ.sɪn/

noun

A nonprescription polypeptide antibiotic isolated from a bacillus (Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis), usually provided in topical ointment form especially against gram-positive bacteria.

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Meanings

nounbacitracin (countable and uncountable, plural bacitracins)

plural bacitracins

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA nonprescription polypeptide antibiotic isolated from a bacillus (Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis), usually provided in topical ointment form especially against gram-positive bacteria.

Origin

From translingual Baci(llus subtilis) + Tracy + -in. Named after American child Margaret Tracy (1936–1994), in whose leg infection the compound was first found.

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Cite this entry
APA

bacitracin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bacitracin

MLA

“bacitracin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bacitracin. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bacitracin,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bacitracin.

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