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
Recent Examples on the Web
The annual boat race went on even though the group found E. coli levels up to 10 times higher than what is considered the worst category for public bathing by U.K. authorities.
—
Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
The water company blamed for discharging sewage into the Thames stressed that E. coli was a naturally occurring organism and likely to be present in floodwater.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
According to their data, the water near the sewage outflows in Ilkley contained between 32 and 43 times the amounts of E. coli bacteria acceptable for a recreational bathing site.
—Andrew Kersley, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
Heavy metals, toxic chemicals and bacteria including E. coli have been detected in the water, according to a San Diego State University report released last month.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
Schindler said the hospital-grade technology can instantly detect, especially in hard to clean areas such as beneath fingernails and in and around jewelry and knuckles, gut biome molecules that can transmit norovirus, E. coli, salmonella, Hepatitis A, Listeria, and other common illnesses.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Aravind’s colleague Aaron Whiteley and his lab at University of Colorado and his lab equipped E. coli with NACHT domains and grew them in test tubes.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024
For example, notifications must be issued within 24 hours if E. coli is present.
—Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2024
Experts also say that even more basic research and resources are needed: better tests that can detect different types of E. coli, which makes up most UTIs, and other bacterial species.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
The water company blamed for discharging sewage into the Thames stressed that E. coli was a naturally occurring organism and likely to be present in floodwater.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
According to their data, the water near the sewage outflows in Ilkley contained between 32 and 43 times the amounts of E. coli bacteria acceptable for a recreational bathing site.
—Andrew Kersley, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
Heavy metals, toxic chemicals and bacteria including E. coli have been detected in the water, according to a San Diego State University report released last month.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
Schindler said the hospital-grade technology can instantly detect, especially in hard to clean areas such as beneath fingernails and in and around jewelry and knuckles, gut biome molecules that can transmit norovirus, E. coli, salmonella, Hepatitis A, Listeria, and other common illnesses.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Aravind’s colleague Aaron Whiteley and his lab at University of Colorado and his lab equipped E. coli with NACHT domains and grew them in test tubes.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024
For example, notifications must be issued within 24 hours if E. coli is present.
—Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2024
Experts also say that even more basic research and resources are needed: better tests that can detect different types of E. coli, which makes up most UTIs, and other bacterial species.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'E. coli.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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