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 15-state outbreak has sickened at least 20, killing four, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA began investigating cases of listeria poisoning, or listeriosis, in September. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025

Pregnant women can suffer stillbirths and miscarriages from the high fevers that are a symptom of listeria. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025

Unfortunately, sometimes listeria can spread into the brain and cause more serious illness, like meningitis. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

The meals, which were shipped directly to customers, are part of a wider concern about listeria contamination across several ready-to-eat food brands. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 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