# erythromycin

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪˌɹɪθ.ɹə(ʊ)ˈmʌɪ.sɪn/ · frequency rank #71,488

## Definitions
1. An antibiotic similar to penicillin, used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections.
2. A broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic C₃₇H₆₇NO₁₃ produced by an actinomycete Saccharopolyspora erythraea (formerly Streptomyces erythreus) and similar in its effects to penicillin, administered orally or topically in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

## Etymology
From (Streptomyces) erythr(eus) + -o- + -mycin (“antibiotic from a Streptomyces strain”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/erythromycin