Antimicrobial vs. Disinfect — What's the Difference?

An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against.

To cleanse so as to destroy or prevent the growth of disease-carrying microorganisms

Capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms

To sterilize by the use of cleaning agent.

An antimicrobial drug.

To free from infectious or contagious matter; to destroy putrefaction; to purify; to make innocuous.

(pharmaceutical effect) tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes

Destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing;

(pharmaceutical effect) inhibiting the growth of microbes

(pharmaceutical effect) preventing or counteracting the pathogenic action of microbes

An agent that destroys microbes, inhibits their growth, or prevents or counteracts their pathogenic action

An agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease

Capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microorganisms