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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Five separate recalls have been issued involving Whole Foods Market products so far in 2025, with issues ranging from undeclared allergens to potential E. coli contamination.
—
Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
In lab tests, Petri dishes containing Penicillin-PPG-doped agar were inoculated with E. coli bacteria, then half of each dish was covered with a light-blocking aluminum sticker.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 13 June 2025
What are possible consequences of salmonella and E. coli infections?
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
For example, Escherichia coli K-12 bacteria can’t survive among the E. coli that live in the human gut, so they’re considered low risk for biological research.
—Eva Amsen, JSTOR Daily, 11 June 2025
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Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
In lab tests, Petri dishes containing Penicillin-PPG-doped agar were inoculated with E. coli bacteria, then half of each dish was covered with a light-blocking aluminum sticker.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 13 June 2025
What are possible consequences of salmonella and E. coli infections?
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
For example, Escherichia coli K-12 bacteria can’t survive among the E. coli that live in the human gut, so they’re considered low risk for biological research.
—Eva Amsen, JSTOR Daily, 11 June 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 3 Jul. 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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