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

The affected items may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria commonly known as listeria. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025

Select deli cheese from Boar’s Head has been recalled over possible listeria contamination. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025

Boar's Head withdrew millions of pounds of deli products last year, when a listeria outbreak killed 10 and sickened dozens more, prompting a federal investigation, which resulted in the temporary closure of its main plant in Virginia. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

Listeriosis, the condition caused by listeria infection, causes headaches, fever, muscle aches, confusion and diarrhea among other symptoms, according to the USDA. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 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