salmonella

noun

sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈne-lə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
plural salmonellae ˌsal-mə-ˈne-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
-ˌlī
or salmonellas or salmonella
: any of a genus (Salmonella) of usually motile enterobacteria that are pathogenic for humans and other warm-blooded animals and cause food poisoning, gastrointestinal inflammation, typhoid fever, or septicemia

Examples of salmonella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The firm received cucumbers which were later recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Separate salmonella outbreak sickens 45 A separate salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers has sickened 45 people across 18 states. Addy Bink, The Hill, 8 June 2025 Tara Chaffin suffered a salmonella infection in May 2024 during a major outbreak linked to cucumbers. Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 7 June 2025 Tomatoes sold in three southern states have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination that could cause death, the Food and Drug Administration announced On May 28, the FDA issued a Class 1 recall of tomatoes from Williams Farms Repack, LLC. Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for salmonella

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Daniel E. Salmon †1914 American veterinarian

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salmonella was in 1913

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salmonella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salmonella. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

salmonella

noun
sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈnel-ə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
plural salmonellae -ˈnel-ē How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
-ˌī
or salmonellas or salmonella
: any of a genus of rod-shaped bacteria that cause various illnesses (as food poisoning) in human beings and other warm-blooded animals

Medical Definition

salmonella

noun
sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈnel-ə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of aerobic gram-negative rod-shaped nonspore-forming usually motile bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that grow well on artificial media and form acid and gas on many carbohydrates but not on lactose, sucrose, or salicin, that are pathogenic for humans and other warm-blooded animals, and that cause food poisoning, acute gastrointestinal inflammation, typhoid fever, and septicemia
2
plural salmonellae -ˈnel-ē How to pronounce salmonella (audio) or salmonellas or salmonella : any bacterium of the genus Salmonella

More from Merriam-Webster on salmonella

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!