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

Foodborne listeria infections can trigger high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea and abdominal pain, and could also cause miscarriage or stillbirth, according to the alert. —Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

Frozen vegetables that went to six states and the District of Columbia have been recalled after testing at the state level found listeria in a finished product. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025

Pet food brand Viva Raw is recalling products for dogs and cats due to listeria and salmonella risks, according to a notice shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025

An investigation into the health emergency — the nation’s largest listeria outbreak since 2011 — began in July 2024, after a sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst from a Maryland store tested positive for the bacteria. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 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