An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of such infections. They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. A limited number of antibiotics also possess antiprotozoal activity. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses such as the ones which cause the common cold or influenza; drugs which inhibit growth of viruses are termed antiviral drugs or antivirals rather than antibiotics. They are also not effective against fungi; drugs which inhibit growth of fungi are called antifungal drugs.

आम उपयोग में, प्रतिजैविक या एंटीबायोटिक एक पदार्थ या यौगिक है, जो जीवाणु को मार डालता है या उसके विकास को रोकता है। प्रतिजैविक रोगाणुरोधी यौगिकों का व्यापक समूह होता है, जिसका उपयोग कवक और प्रोटोजोआ सहित सूक्ष्मदर्शी द्वारा देखे जाने वाले जीवाणुओं के कारण हुए संक्रमण के इलाज के लिए होता है।^{[उद्धरण चाहिए]}