food poisoning

noun

: an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic products or by chemical residues in food

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Symptoms can resemble common food poisoning symptoms, including diarrhea and fever, and most people who experience these symptoms recover without treatment. Tre'vaughn Howard, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023 Daily Harvest, the frozen vegan food delivery startup at the center of ongoing allegations of a food poisoning scandal, has cut 15% of its employees, a source with knowledge of the situation told my colleague (The company declined to comment). Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2022 Norovirus is one form of food poisoning, the large umbrella term the describes being sick after eating or drinking. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2023 What is the difference between norovirus and food poisoning? Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2023 Now, officials are asking them not to consume the food due to a risk of food poisoning. Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2023 Health officials are warning against consuming the popular candy after at least 20 children in Indonesia suffered food poisoning and other severe injuries. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 19 Jan. 2023 As a result, increased thirst and fatigue are attributed to flu, food poisoning or other illness, delaying diagnosis. Theresa Sullivan Barger, Hartford Courant, 17 Dec. 2022 Diarrhea is caused by a variety of things, including stress, irritable bowel, food poisoning, infection, and medication side effects. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'food poisoning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of food poisoning was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near food poisoning

Cite this Entry

“Food poisoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20poisoning. Accessed 2 Apr. 2023.

Kids Definition

food poisoning

noun
: a digestive sickness caused by bacteria or by chemicals in food

Medical Definition

food poisoning

noun
1
: either of two acute gastrointestinal disorders caused by bacteria or their toxic products:
a
: a rapidly developing intoxication marked by nausea, vomiting, prostration, and often severe diarrhea and caused by the presence in food of toxic products produced by bacteria (as some staphylococci)
b
: a less rapidly developing infection especially with salmonellae that has generally similar symptoms and that results from multiplication of bacteria ingested with contaminated food
2
: a gastrointestinal disturbance occurring after consumption of food that is contaminated with chemical residues (as from sprays) or food (as some fungi) that is inherently unsuitable for human consumption

More from Merriam-Webster on food poisoning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY