fungal

adjective

fun·​gal ˈfəŋ-gəl How to pronounce fungal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of fungi
2
: caused by a fungus
a fungal skin disease

Examples of fungal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nearly 800 people in 20 states were diagnosed with a fungal infection in 2012 after receiving injections from contaminated vials of medicine manufactured by the NECC, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has said. Sabrina Souza, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 According to the study, which was published this month in the Journal of Archaeological Science, wasabi vapors can actually help fight off fungal infections on ancient papyrus without causing harm to the fragile material itself (or the pigments painted onto it). Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 Remove and destroy any affected plants as this fungal disease will spread to other lilies. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2024 The flooding caused by intensifying winter rainstorms in California is helping to spread a deadly fungal disease called coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever. Zoya Teirstein, WIRED, 17 Feb. 2024 Sydney Glassman, a fungal ecologist at the University of California, Riverside, isn’t convinced that the growth is even a mushroom. Jude Coleman, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 People can get blastomycosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air, the CDC says. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2024 Four people in Washington state have tested positive this month for a rare fungal infection that can be deadly. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 2 Feb. 2024 Share [Findings] A fungal parasite that afflicts the reproductive organs of millipedes was named in honor of Twitter. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fungal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fungal was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near fungal

Cite this Entry

“Fungal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fungal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fungal

adjective
fun·​gal ˈfəŋ-gəl How to pronounce fungal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling fungi
2
: caused by a fungus
a fungal skin disease

Medical Definition

fungal

adjective
fun·​gal ˈfəŋ-gəl How to pronounce fungal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of fungi
2
: caused by a fungus
fungal infections

More from Merriam-Webster on fungal

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