broad-spectrum

adjective

broad-spec·​trum ˈbrȯd-ˈspek-trəm 

1

: effective against a wide range of organisms (such as insects or bacteria)

a broad-spectrum antibiotic

2

: effective in protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation by absorbing or blocking both UVA and UVB rays

broad-spectrum sunscreens

Examples of broad-spectrum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tetracycline is a common broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat everything from syphilis to bacterial skin and lung infections. —Joe Salas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2024

Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral that works well against RNA viruses and is also used to treat hepatitis C, is the primary treatment. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024

But for broad-spectrum antivirals, pull funding mechanisms like advance market commitments (AMCs) could be more effective. —Jano Costard, Fortune Europe, 16 Oct. 2024

Governments and businesses in the public health sector need to build broad-spectrum tools for data collection, rapid disease surveillance, the conversion of qualitative research into insights, and the publication of datasets. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

broad-spectrum

adjective

1

: effective against a wide range of organisms (as insects or bacteria)

broad-spectrum antibiotics

compare narrow-spectrum

2

: effective in protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation by absorbing or blocking both UVA and UVB rays

broad-spectrum suncreen