| disinfectant | An agent that disinfects, applied particularly to agents used on inanimate objects. Compare: antiseptic. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| disinfectants | Substances used on inanimate objects that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. Disinfectants are classed as complete, destroying spores as well as vegetative forms of microorganisms, or incomplete, destroying only vegetative forms of the organisms. They are distinguished from antiseptics, which are local anti-infective agents used on humans and other animals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| complete disinfectant | A disinfectant that kills both vegetative forms and spores. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| dental disinfectant | <dentistry> Chemicals especially for use on instruments to destroy most pathogenic organisms. (boucher, clinical dental terminology, 4th ed) (12 Dec 1998) |
| incomplete disinfectant | A disinfectant that kills only the vegetative forms, leaving the spores uninjured. (05 Mar 2000) |