E. coli

noun

ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī 

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

More than 16,000 pounds of ground beef sold at Walmart and produced by Cargill Meat Solutions have been recalled due to a possible E. coli contamination. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 6 May 2024

Health officials are also currently investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli linked to organic walnuts sold in food co-ops or natural food stores. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 May 2024

Raw milk can carry bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria, and campylobacter, and was associated with 1,909 illnesses between 1993 and 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 3 May 2024

Animals such as cattle may also spread E. coli to food and food crops. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024

About 16,000 pounds of ground beef products shipped to Walmart stores nationwide were recalled Wednesday because they might be contaminated with the harshest strain of E. coli. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024

The bacteria typically strikes three or four days after a person consumes food tainted with E. coli. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 2 May 2024

Here's the info about the recall, what to do and what symptoms of an E. coli infection. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 1 May 2024

Beef recall:Public health alert issued over ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. —USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

E. coli

noun

ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī 

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

noun

ˌē-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

this E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis

—Ed Geldreich