bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

bacterial infection

bacterially

bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of bacterial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers swabbed several common travel items, then incubated the samples to measure bacterial growth in colony-forming units (CFUs). —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026

On average, people who had not taken any antibiotics in the past eight years had about 350 unique bacterial species living in their gut, but those who had taken any antibiotics in that time frame had fewer. —Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026

High levels of salt, sugar, or acid act as preservatives, inhibiting bacterial growth. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Last summer, Coca-Cola had to recall Topo Chico Mineral Water bottles shipped to five states due to possible bacterial contamination. —Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bacterial

• bacterial vaginosis

Rhymes for bacterial

• arterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• imperial
• material
• sidereal
• venereal
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• cereal
• virial

Kids Definition

bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

Medical Definition

bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

a bacterial chromosome

bacterial infection

bacterial endocarditis

bacterially

-ə-lē 

adverb