Antimicrobial vs Bactericidal - What's the difference?

As adjectives the difference between antimicrobial and bactericidal

is that antimicrobial is tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes while bactericidal is that kills bacteria.

is an agent that destroys microbes, inhibits their growth, or prevents or counteracts their pathogenic action.

* anti-microbial

(-)

tending to destroy or capable of destroying microbes

inhibiting the growth of microbes

preventing or counteracting the pathogenic action of microbes

* antimicrobic

(en noun)

an agent that destroys microbes, inhibits their growth, or prevents or counteracts their pathogenic action

(-)

That kills bacteria.

Of or pertaining to a bactericide.