Antibacterial tellurite glass system doped with ZnO was synthesized by the melt-quenching method. The physical and structural characteristics of the glass were studied. The change in the structure was studied using the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra. Transmission studies were performed on the samples in the range (200-800 nm). Characteristics glass temperatures were determined by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range (200-600 degrees C) at different heating rates. A broad spectrum antibacterial property was tested using agar disk-diffusion assay against Gram + ve bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-ye bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antibacterial potency of zinctellurite glass was directly proportional to ZnO content from 5% to 20% mol for all bacterial strains under study. To the best of authors' knowledge, present work is considered the first article addressing the antibacterial properties of zinc-tellurite glass. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.