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

Yes, storing tomatoes stem side down helps prevent moisture loss and bacterial invasion through the stem area, the tomato’s weakest point. — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Rather than reflecting genuinely absent enzymes, these gaps could simply mirror methodological limitations in the phylogenetic reconstruction that prevented the identification of all the original ancient enzymes in bacterial and archaean lineages. — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

In 1990, Gregg, who is from East Texas and went to SMU, contracted pneumococcal bacterial spinal meningitis during the delivery of her third child at the age of 30. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026

These two ingredients are fermented using different bacterial strains. — Anthea Levi, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bacterial

• bacterial vaginosis

Rhymes for bacterial

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

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