listeriosis
noun
lis·te·ri·o·sis
li-ˌstir-ē-ˈō-səs 
plural listerioses
li-ˌstir-ē-ˈō-ˌsēz
: a serious encephalitic disease of a wide variety of animals that is caused by a bacterium (Listeria monocytogenes) and that in animals is often fatal but in humans is usually not fatal
Examples of listeriosis in a Sentence
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There are many factors that determine if someone gets listeriosis—a listeria infection.
—
Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
As a result, illnesses commonly spread via milk, such as listeriosis, diphtheria and tuberculosis, became less prevalent.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Listeria infection—known as listeriosis—is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Symptoms of listeria infection The FDA says symptoms of listeriosis usually start within two weeks of consuming food contaminated with listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks afterwards.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 12 May 2025
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Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
As a result, illnesses commonly spread via milk, such as listeriosis, diphtheria and tuberculosis, became less prevalent.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Listeria infection—known as listeriosis—is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Symptoms of listeria infection The FDA says symptoms of listeriosis usually start within two weeks of consuming food contaminated with listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks afterwards.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for listeriosis
Cite this Entry
“Listeriosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listeriosis. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
listeriosis
noun
lis·te·ri·o·sis
(ˌ)lis-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-səs
variants
also listerellosis
plural listerioses also listerelloses
-ˌsēz
: a serious disease of animals and humans that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Listeria (L. monocytogenes), that in animals causes severe encephalitis accompanied by disordered movements and is often fatal, that is contracted by humans especially from contaminated food (as processed meats or unpasteurized milk or cheese), that in otherwise healthy people typically takes the form of a mild flu-like illness or has no noticeable symptoms, that in neonates, the elderly, and the immunocompromised often causes serious sometimes fatal illness with symptoms including meningitis and sepsis, and that in pregnant women usually causes only mild illness in the mother but often results in miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth see circling disease
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