listeria
noun
lis·te·ria
li-ˈstir-ē-ə 
plural listeria
: any of a genus (Listeria) of small, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (Listeria monocytogenes) that causes listeriosis
A common germ found in many foods from raw vegetables to hot dogs, listeria can cause a sometimes fatal disease called listeriosis when present in large quantities.—
Amy Barrett
Amy Barrett
also
: a disease or sickness caused by infection with this bacterium : listeriosis
Listeria symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. —Sierra Brown
Sierra Brown Examples of listeria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cheese also has perfect water activity and moisture amount for listeria to survive.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Most people can be infected with listeria and not become seriously ill.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 May 2025
At least 10 people have been hospitalized in California and Nevada following a listeria outbreak under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA said in a release Saturday.
—Viola Flowers, NBC news, 11 May 2025
On February 8, an alert for alfalfa sprouts was initiated by Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc., due to the possibility of listeria contamination.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listeria
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Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Most people can be infected with listeria and not become seriously ill.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 May 2025
At least 10 people have been hospitalized in California and Nevada following a listeria outbreak under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA said in a release Saturday.
—Viola Flowers, NBC news, 11 May 2025
On February 8, an alert for alfalfa sprouts was initiated by Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc., due to the possibility of listeria contamination.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listeria
Cite this Entry
“Listeria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listeria. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
listeria
noun
lis·te·ria
lis-ˈtir-ē-ə
1
capitalized
: a genus of small gram-positive flagellated rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores, are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (L. monocytogenes) causing listeriosis
2
: any bacterium of the genus Listeria
called also listerella
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