ciprofloxacin

C3I1P3R1O1F4L1O1X8A1C3I1N1
US/ˌsɪp.ɹəˈflɑk.səs.ɪn/

noun

A broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃ that is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃·HCl and is effective especially against gram-negative bacteria.

Similar
Cipro
OriginEnglish cy(clo)pro(pyl) ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? →
Less commonScrabble 29
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Meanings

nounciprofloxacin (uncountable, abbreviation cipro)

abbreviation cipro

  1. uncountablemedicineA broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃ that is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃·HCl and is effective especially against gram-negative bacteria.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan oral antibiotic (trade name Cipro) used against serious bacterial infections of the skin or respiratory tract or urinary tract or bones or joints

Similar
Cipro
Broader
antibioticantibiotic drug
Also see
ciproxin

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kʷelh₁-redup.
  2. Proto-Indo-European*kʷékʷlos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*kʷókʷlos
  4. Proto-Hellenic*kúklos
  5. Ancient Greekκύκλος (kúklos)
  6. Late Latincyclus
  7. Middle Englishcicle
  8. Englishcycle
  9. Ancient Greekκύκλος (kúklos)
  10. Ancient Greekκυκλῐκός (kuklĭkós)
  11. Classical Latincyclicu
  12. Middle Frenchcyclique
  13. Frenchcyclique
  14. Classical Latincyclicus
  15. Englishcyclic
  16. Englishcyclo-
  17. Englishpropane
  18. Englishcyclopropane
  19. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  20. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  21. Englishcy(clo)pro(pyl)
  22. Englishciprofloxacin

From cy(clo)pro(pyl) + -floxacin (“nalidixic acid derivative”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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