campylobacter

noun

cam·pylo·bac·ter ˌkam-pi-lō-ˈbak-tər

kam-ˌpi-lə-

: any of a genus (Campylobacter) of spirally curved motile gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria of which some are pathogenic in domestic animals and humans

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Chickens can also expose people to the campylobacter bacteria. —

Jen Christensen, CNN, 18 Jan. 2023 Some common infections that can affect the gastrointestinal tract include salmonella, campylobacter, and giardia. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2022 Cases of campylobacter, listeria and shigella remained steady while cases of cyclospora, vibrio and yersinia increased. —

Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 Oct. 2022 The report showed campylobacter, which is commonly attributed to chicken products, was identified in 17.8 cases per 100,000. —

Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 Oct. 2022 The good news is that people with a campylobacter infection typically recover on their own. —

Yoni Heisler, BGR, 29 Aug. 2021 The campylobacter bacteria can cause campylobacteriosis. —

Yoni Heisler, BGR, 29 Aug. 2021 And too many people have done so anyway at their peril and ended up sick as a dog from salmonella, Cyclospora, campylobacter, and more. —

John Mariani, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2021 In additional lab experiments, the scientists injected raw chicken breast fillets with a cocktail of campylobacter and salmonella. —

Joanna Klein, New York Times, 1 May 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'campylobacter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek kampylos bent + New Latin bacterium; akin to Greek kampē bend — more at gambit

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of campylobacter was in 1964

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Campylobacter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/campylobacter. Accessed 4 Feb. 2023.

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Medical Definition

campylobacter

noun

cam·py·lo·bac·ter ˈkam-pə-lō-ˌbak-tər

capitalized : a genus of slender spirally curved rod bacteria of the family Spirillaceae that are gram-negative, microaerophilic, and motile with a characteristic motion resembling a corkscrew, that do not form spores, and that include forms formerly included in the genus Spirillum or Vibrio of which some are pathogenic for domestic animals or humans see helicobacter

: any bacterium of the genus Campylobacter