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

Hy-Vee, a supermarket chain headquartered in Iowa, issued a voluntary recall for a range of sushi products on June 5 because of possible listeria contamination. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Check your fridge Ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals have been recalled after a listeria outbreak sickened people in 13 states. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 19 June 2025

Listeria poisoning symptoms Listeria poisoning is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Consuming food contaminated with listeria can lead to a serious infection called listeriosis, which can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, a stiff neck and other symptoms. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 18 June 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