E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness see enterobacterium illustration
Examples of E. coli in a Sentence
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People have developed Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, infections.
—
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
The Department of Health says some are sick with a form of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the category of E. coli that can turn deadly from a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Every year, the report ranks the cleanest swimming water among all the EU states, plus Switzerland and Albania, using data that takes into account annual assessments of bacterial contaminants, including Escherichia coli (or E. coli) and intestinal enterococci.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations because of dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli, research shows.
—Kate Payne, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
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Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
The Department of Health says some are sick with a form of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the category of E. coli that can turn deadly from a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Every year, the report ranks the cleanest swimming water among all the EU states, plus Switzerland and Albania, using data that takes into account annual assessments of bacterial contaminants, including Escherichia coli (or E. coli) and intestinal enterococci.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations because of dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli, research shows.
—Kate Payne, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for E. coli
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: a bacterium in the shape of a short rod that may cause intestinal illness
Etymology
short for Escherichia coli, the taxonomic name in biology
Medical Definition
E. coli
nounˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī
plural E. coli also E. colis
: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea
one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of feces—John Schwartz
John Schwartzthis E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis—Ed Geldreich
Ed GeldreichLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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