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

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

Examples of listeria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Listeriosis is a serious infection that can develop from consuming products with traces of listeria. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

Unfortunately, sometimes listeria can spread into the brain and cause more serious illness, like meningitis. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

The recall of Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad sold out of the Grab & Go and service counters at Sprouts grocery stores is the latest recall in the listeria outbreak tracing back to Nate’s Fine Foods of the Sacramento suburb of Roseville. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025

The company initiated the recall after genetic testing found a strain of listeria bacteria in prepared chicken fettuccine and meatball pasta products that matched a strain of bacteria that has been implicated in an ongoing listeria outbreak since August 2024. —Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Listeria, from Joseph Lister

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for listeria

• arteria
• bacteria
• criteria
• diphtheria
• egeria
• neisseria
• wisteria
• cafeteria
• cyanobacteria
• mycobacteria

Medical 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

listerial

lis-ˈtir-ē-əl 

adjective

listeric

-ik 

adjective