E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness see enterobacterium illustration
Examples of E. coli in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The samples are then tested in a laboratory to detect the presence of genetic material from Enterococci — bacteria that, like E. coli, live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals such as humans.
—
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
They are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, fecal bacteria (indicated by the E. coli species) could be present.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Three village of Germantown wells that earlier tested positive for bacterial contaminants each tested negative for E. coli, officials reported Aug. 19.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that the raw milk producer and seller are liable because the product contained Campylobacter and E. coli and failed to give adequate warnings of the product’s dangers.
—Mark Harper, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for E. coli
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.
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
They are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, fecal bacteria (indicated by the E. coli species) could be present.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Three village of Germantown wells that earlier tested positive for bacterial contaminants each tested negative for E. coli, officials reported Aug. 19.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that the raw milk producer and seller are liable because the product contained Campylobacter and E. coli and failed to give adequate warnings of the product’s dangers.
—Mark Harper, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for E. coli
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: a bacterium in the shape of a short rod that may cause intestinal illness
Etymology
short for Escherichia coli, the taxonomic name in biology
Medical Definition
E. coli
nounˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī
plural E. coli also E. colis
: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea
one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of feces—John Schwartz
John Schwartzthis E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis—Ed Geldreich
Ed GeldreichLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share