campylobacter

noun cam·pylo·bac·ter \ ˌkam-pi-lō-ˈbak-tər , kam-ˌpi-lə- \

|Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of campylobacter

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

Recent Examples of campylobacter from the Web

Egert did not find the common bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter.

— alice park, Time, "You Should Throw Away Your Germy Kitchen Sponge Immediately. Here’s How to Wash Your Dishes Instead," 27 Apr. 2018
One gram of dog poop can contain up to 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, and dog poop is also a common carrier of whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, parvo, coronavirus, giardia, salmonella, cryptosporidium, and campylobacter.

— wes siler, Outside Online, "It’s Time to Talk About Dog Poop," 27 Mar. 2018
In many cases, food poisoning is caused by bacteria—such as salmonella, E. coli, or campylobacter—that’s lurking in undercooked meat or contaminated produce.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "12 Reasons You Might Have Cramps That Have Nothing to Do With Your Period," 27 Mar. 2018
The drug-resistant campylobacter infections sickened 113 people from 17 states between Jan. 12, 2016 and Jan. 7, 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— ann zaniewski, Detroit Free Press, "Petland sold sick, worm-infested puppies, lawsuit claims," 19 Mar. 2018
Unclean coops can help spread diseases such as salmonella, histoplasmosis and campylobacter infection to humans.

— jeff piorkowski/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "University Heights City Council considers allowing backyard chickens," 21 Feb. 2018
The campylobacter illnesses began on Sept. 15, 2016, and the most recent case was reported on Sept. 1.

— andy marso, kansascity, "Petland puppy poop giving humans serious diarrhea," 11 Sep. 2017
Twelve of the campylobacter victims are Petland employees from stores in four states.

— andy marso, kansascity, "Petland puppy poop giving humans serious diarrhea," 11 Sep. 2017
Last year ago an outbreak of campylobacter in a suburb of Hastings on the North Island made 3,000 people sick and killed two or three.

— The Economist, "BanyanWill New Zealand remain a green and pleasant land?," 21 Sep. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of campylobacter

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1964

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

campylobacter

noun cam·py·lo·bac·ter \ ˈkam-pə-lō-ˌbak-tər \

medical Definition of campylobacter

1 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

2 : any bacterium of the genus Campylobacter