Cephalosporin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. However, not everyone may know what cephalosporin means. Fortunately, there are a few synonyms that one could use to explain the same. Some synonyms for cephalosporin include "cephamycin," "cephems," and "beta-lactam antibiotics." Cephems are third-generation cephalosporins that have a broader spectrum of activity against gram-negative bacteria than earlier generations. Cephamycin is a subclass of cephalosporins that are used to treat moderate to severe infections caused by aerobic and anaerobic gram-negative organisms. Beta-lactam antibiotics are a type of antibiotic that includes cephalosporins and are characterized by their beta-lactam ring structure. Knowing these synonyms can help individuals better understand the drug, its uses and how it works.