Meanings
adjectivebioactive (comparative more bioactive, superlative most bioactive)
comparative more bioactive · superlative most bioactive
- Biologically active; having a biological effect.First known use 20th c.
Although some cephalopod inks have been studied chemically, there’s still a lot unknown about the bioactive function of ink when released in the wild.
2017 August 9, Mark Carnall, The Guardian - Describing a terrarium, vivarium, etc. that is self-sustaining and mimics a natural habitat.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*gʷeyh₃-
- Ancient Greekβῐ́ος (bĭ́os)
- Ancient Greekβῐο- (bĭo-)
- Englishbio-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂eǵ-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂éǵeti
- Proto-Italic*agō
- Latinagō
- Ancient Greekἐνεργητικός (energētikós)
- Latināctīvu
- Old Frenchactif
- Middle Englishactyf
- Englishactive
- Englishbioactive
Translations
Dutch bioactief
- bioactiefhaving a biological effect
Finnish bioaktiivinen
- bioaktiivinenhaving a biological effect
Hungarian bioaktív
- bioaktívhaving a biological effect
Indonesian bioaktif
- bioaktifhaving a biological effect
Norwegian Bokmål bioaktiv
- bioaktivhaving a biological effect
Polish bioaktywny
- bioaktywnyhaving a biological effect
Cite this entry
APA
bioactive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bioactive
MLA
“bioactive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bioactive. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bioactive,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bioactive.
Source: bioactive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.