biofilm

noun

bio·​film ˌbi-(ˌ)ō-ˈfilm How to pronounce biofilm (audio)
: a thin usually resistant layer of microorganisms (such as bacteria) that form on and coat various surfaces

Examples of biofilm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates can encode plastic-degrading enzymes that allow survival on plastic and augment biofilm formation. Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 This realization prompted him to take a deep dive into biofilm microanatomy. Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025 What differentiates colloids from biofilms is growth, which a biofilm must balance between the horizontal and the vertical. Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025 In either case, the robot destroys the biofilms in three ways. New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for biofilm

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biofilm was in 1975

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Biofilm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofilm. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

biofilm

noun
bio·​film ˈbī-ō-ˌfilm How to pronounce biofilm (audio)
: a thin usually resistant layer of microorganisms (as bacteria) that form on and coat various surfaces (as of catheters or water pipes)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!