E. coli

noun

\ ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī

plural E. coli

Definition of 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

Learn More About E. coli

Dictionary Entries Near E. coli

ecol

E. coli

e-collar

Statistics for E. coli

Cite this Entry

“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for E. coli

E. coli

noun

\ ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī \

plural E. coli also E. colis

Medical Definition of E. coli

: 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 this E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis— Ed Geldreich