bacillus
noun
ba·cil·lus
bə-ˈsi-ləs 
plural bacilli
bə-ˈsi-ˌlī
also -lē
1
: any of a genus (Bacillus) of rod-shaped gram-positive usually aerobic bacteria producing endospores and including many saprophytes and some parasites (such as B. anthracis of anthrax)
broadly
: a straight rod-shaped bacterium
2
: bacterium
especially
: a disease-producing bacterium
Examples of bacillus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another option that is also safe and environmentally friendly is a product containing BT, bacillus thuringiensis.
—
Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2024
Gut Guru Gummies contain up to 2 billion CFU of bacillus coagulans because good bacteria is key for a balanced gut.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2022
Key ingredients: Glyceryl glucoside, hydrolyzed yeast extract, bacillus ferment, polyglucuronic acid Size: 0.67 Fl.
—Iman Balagam, harpersbazaar.com, 6 May 2023
Recent analyses of global epidemiological data by several teams in the United States and in Israel found that in places with higher rates of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccination, the spread of COVID-19 is slower and pandemic death rates are lower.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for bacillus 
Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2024
Gut Guru Gummies contain up to 2 billion CFU of bacillus coagulans because good bacteria is key for a balanced gut.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2022
Key ingredients: Glyceryl glucoside, hydrolyzed yeast extract, bacillus ferment, polyglucuronic acid Size: 0.67 Fl.
—Iman Balagam, harpersbazaar.com, 6 May 2023
Recent analyses of global epidemiological data by several teams in the United States and in Israel found that in places with higher rates of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccination, the spread of COVID-19 is slower and pandemic death rates are lower.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for bacillus
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bacillus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bacillus
Cite this Entry
“Bacillus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacillus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bacillus
noun
ba·cil·lus
bə-ˈsil-əs
plural bacilli
-ˈsil-ˌī
also -ˈsil-ē
: any of numerous straight rod-shaped bacteria that require oxygen for growth
also
: a disease-producing bacterium
Medical Definition
bacillus
noun
ba·cil·lus
bə-ˈsil-əs
plural bacilli
-ˌī also -ē
1
a
capitalized
: a genus of rod-shaped gram-positive endospore-producing usually aerobic bacteria of the family Bacillaceae that include many saprophytes and some parasites (as B. anthracis of anthrax)
b
: any bacterium of the genus Bacillus
broadly
: a straight rod-shaped bacterium
2
: bacterium
especially
: a disease-producing bacterium
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