plural germs
1
a
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts
b
: the embryo with the scutellum of a cereal grain that is usually separated from the starchy endosperm during milling
3
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
Examples of germ in a Sentence
the germ that causes tuberculosis
the germ of an idea
the germ layers of an embryo
Recent Examples on the Web
Each one-liter bottle helps kill 99% of bad breath germs, strengthen enamel and fight cavities.
—
Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Sanitize Your Pet Supplies Everyday germs from the outside world and even pet food can contaminate your dog’s bowls, toys, and habitats.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
The pandemic may have played a role, too, with widespread masking and limited exposure to germs from 2021 to 2023, fewer people built up short-term immunity.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025
That is, a non-central process that allows the immune system to strike a delicate balance between being appropriately responsive and aggressive toward intruding germs or foreign dangers while also not running amok.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for germ
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Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Sanitize Your Pet Supplies Everyday germs from the outside world and even pet food can contaminate your dog’s bowls, toys, and habitats.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
The pandemic may have played a role, too, with widespread masking and limited exposure to germs from 2021 to 2023, fewer people built up short-term immunity.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025
That is, a non-central process that allows the immune system to strike a delicate balance between being appropriately responsive and aggressive toward intruding germs or foreign dangers while also not running amok.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for germ
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
germ
noun1
a
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into a whole individual or one of its parts
b
: the embryo in the seed of a cereal (as corn or wheat) together with its cotyledon that is usually separated from the starchy part of the seed during milling
2
: something that serves as an origin
the germ of an idea
3
: a microscopic living thing
especially
: one that causes disease
Medical Definition
germ
noun1
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts
2
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
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