Final answer:
The substances produced by some microorganisms that inhibit or destroy other microorganisms are known as antibiotics. They include natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic compounds and are not necessary for the producing organism's own survival but can help it compete for resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes substances produced by the natural metabolic processes of some microorganisms that can inhibit or destroy other microorganisms is antibiotic.
Antibiotics are secondary metabolites, not necessary for the microbe's own vital life processes, but can provide a competitive edge by inhibiting or destroying other microbes. They can be derived from primary metabolites and include not just naturally occurring substances but also semisynthetic and synthetic compounds.
While antibiotics were historically sourced exclusively from microbial products, advancements in chemistry have allowed for the laboratory synthesis and mass production of antibiotics, such as isoniazid and theambutol for tuberculosis treatment.