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 Bearded dragons harbor salmonella bacteria in their digestive tracts that can spread into feces and on the lizard’s skin, making handling a potential cause of the spread of infection. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024 Federal health officials announced a salmonella outbreak tied to cantaloupes that claimed six lives and sicked more than 400 people has ended. USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Cantaloupes tainted with salmonella have been linked to six deaths, in addition to more than 400 illnesses across 44 states in recent months, the CDC said in its latest notice. Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2024 Charcuterie meats sold at Costco and Sam's Club have been linked to a salmonella outbreak across the U.S., according to the CDC. Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2024 And Purdue University researchers found that household items such as vinegar and iodine diluted in water could reduce exterior contamination with salmonella by 99%. Jonel Aleccia, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2023 The trend was similar for shigella, vibrio and salmonella. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023 Unpasteurized products can carry dangerous bacteria such as listeria, salmonella and E. coli, according to the CDC. Carma Hassan, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024 Symptoms such as diarrhea, stomachaches and fever can start as soon as six hours after ingesting salmonella and usually run for four to seven days. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2024

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near salmonella

Cite this Entry

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

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

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