any substance that arrests the growth or reproduction of bacteria but does not kill them
bacteriostat in American English
(bækˈtɪəriəˌstæt)
noun
a substance or preparation that inhibits the further growth of bacteria
Word origin
[1915–20; bacterio- + -stat]This word is first recorded in the period 1915–20. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: GI, costar, markup, neorealism, takeout-stat is a combining form used in the names of devices that stabilize or make constantwhat is specified by the initial element. Other words that use the affix -stat include: aerostat, microstat, mycostat, pyrostat, rheostat