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oxacillin

UK/ˌɒk.səˈsɪl.ɪn/US/ˌɑk.səˈsɪl.ɪn/

noun

A narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic made by chemical modification of penicillin and administered in the form of its hydrated sodium salt C₁₉H₁₈N₃NaO₅S·H₂O to treat infections caused by penicillin-resistant staphylococci.

UncommonScrabble 18

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Meanings

nounoxacillin (countable and uncountable, plural oxacillins)

plural oxacillins

countableuncountablemedicineA narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic made by chemical modification of penicillin and administered in the form of its hydrated sodium salt C₁₉H₁₈N₃NaO₅S·H₂O to treat infections caused by penicillin-resistant staphylococci.

Origin

From (is)oxa(zole) + -cillin (“6-aminopenicillanic acid derivative”).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with oxacillin

amoxicillin penicillin ampicillin theophylline piperacillin ticarcillin carbenicillin cloxacillin dicloxacillin nafcillin benzylpenicillin carindacillin -cillin meticillin phenoxymethylpenicillin

Cite this entry

APA

oxacillin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxacillin

MLA

“oxacillin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxacillin. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oxacillin,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxacillin.

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