botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbä-chə-ˌli-zəm 

: acute food poisoning that is caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterial clostridium (Clostridium botulinum) and is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate

Examples of botulism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Potatoes wrapped in foil don't have much oxygen, creating an ideal environment for botulism. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026

ByHeart also urges parents continue to monitor babies for symptoms of infant botulism. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025

Health agencies are still working to figure out what caused the botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart’s formula. —Anna Edney, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025

Infant botulism can lead to bulbar palsies, hypotonia and a symmetric, descending, flaccid paralysis. —Max Rego, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for botulism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm 

: poisoning caused by eating food containing a toxin made by a spore-forming bacterium

Medical Definition

botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm 

: acute food poisoning caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. botulinum) and characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate see botulinum toxin, limberneck