antibiosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Highly specialized/technical)Scientific, academic, technical (biology, medicine, agriculture)
Quick answer
What does “antibiosis” mean?
An antagonistic association between two or more organisms, especially microorganisms, that is detrimental to at least one of them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An antagonistic association between two or more organisms, especially microorganisms, that is detrimental to at least one of them; a biological interaction where one organism harms another.
The phenomenon of one organism inhibiting the growth or survival of another through the production of chemical substances (antibiotics).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; uniformly technical/scientific.
Connotations
Neutral scientific term in both variants.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; used almost exclusively in specialized literature in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “antibiosis” in a Sentence
[Organism A] exhibits antibiosis against [Organism B]The antibiosis between [X] and [Y] results in...Antibiosis is observed when...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antibiosis” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The antibiosis effect of the fungal metabolite was measured.
- They studied the antibiosis properties of the root exudates.
American English
- Researchers identified a strain with strong antibiosis activity.
- The antibiosis mechanism was not fully understood.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in microbiology, ecology, and plant pathology. Used in research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Almost never used.
Technical
Precise term describing a specific type of interspecies competition or amensalism mediated by biochemicals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antibiosis”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antibiosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antibiosis”
- Using 'antibiosis' to mean 'treatment with antibiotics' (that's antibiotic therapy).
- Confusing it with 'antibiotic resistance'.
- Using it as a synonym for any competition or predation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Antibiosis' is the biological phenomenon or relationship where one organism inhibits another. An 'antibiotic' is the specific chemical substance produced by an organism that causes the antibiosis.
Yes, the term is used broadly in biology. For example, a plant may produce chemicals that exhibit antibiosis against insect herbivores, deterring or harming them.
No, it is a highly specialized, low-frequency term used almost exclusively in technical writing and discourse within fields like microbiology, ecology, and agriculture.
It is primarily a noun. While the related adjective 'antibiotic' is common, 'antibiosis' itself is not typically used as an adjective, though phrases like 'antibiosis effect' use it attributively.
An antagonistic association between two or more organisms, especially microorganisms, that is detrimental to at least one of them.
Antibiosis is usually scientific, academic, technical (biology, medicine, agriculture) in register.
Antibiosis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌantɪbʌɪˈəʊsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæntibaɪˈoʊsɪs/ˌæntɪbaɪˈoʊsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ANTI-BIOSIS: ANTI (against) + BIOSIS (life process). It's a life process where one organism acts AGAINST another.
Conceptual Metaphor
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (one organism chemically 'attacks' another).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary domain of use for the word 'antibiosis'?