botulinum

noun

bot·​u·​li·​num ˌbä-chə-ˈlī-nəm 

variants or less commonly botulinus

ˌbä-chə-ˈlī-nəs 

: a spore-forming bacterium (Clostridium botulinum) that secretes botulinum toxin

botulinal

ˌbä-chə-ˈlī-nᵊl 

adjective

Examples of botulinum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The New York company said in a statement that so far its product had not tested positive for the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. —Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026

Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness caused when spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum enter an infant’s digestive tract and produce toxins which attack nerves, leading to muscular and respiratory paralysis. —Victoria Forster, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Healthy adults consume Clostridium botulinum spores every day without becoming sick. —Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026

What is Clostridium botulinum and botulism? —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin botulus sausage

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing botulinum

• botulinum toxin

Rhymes for botulinum

• linum
• minim

Medical Definition

botulinum

noun

bot·​u·​li·​num ˌbäch-ə-ˈlī-nəm 

variants also botulinus

-nəs 

: a spore-forming bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. botulinum) that produces botulinum toxin

botulinal

-ˈlīn-ᵊl 

adjective