botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbä-chə-ˌli-zəm 

: acute food poisoning that is caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterial clostridium (Clostridium botulinum) and is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate

Examples of botulism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Cleveland Clinic, infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that can affect babies under 12 months. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

This puts parents worried about the possibility of botulism in a hard place. — Sarah Todd, STAT, 18 June 2026

This, after the FDA is investigating the powdered infant formula for a possible link to an outbreak of infant botulism cases. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 15 June 2026

Nara Organics recalled its whole-milk baby formula after a California child and two others were sickened by potentially fatal infant botulism, federal officials said. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for botulism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism

Kids Definition

botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm 

: poisoning caused by eating food containing a toxin made by a spore-forming bacterium

Medical Definition

botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm 

: acute food poisoning caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. botulinum) and characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate see botulinum toxin, limberneck