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

Leave that linguine behind Some heat-and-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s may be contaminated with listeria bacteria, according to federal health officials. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025

Last week, its pasta samples came back positive for listeria. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025

Two other pasta meals — Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo and Linguine With Beef Meatballs and Marinara from Walmart — may also be contaminated with listeria, per the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Sep. 2025

Newborns and people over 65 are most likely to get the worst of listeria’s affects. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 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