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A hint of the Greek word bios, meaning "life", can be seen in microbe. Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes, and most of them are essential to our life. Much research is now going into possible microbial sources of future energy; algae looks particularly promising, as do certain newly discovered or created microbes that can produce cellulose, to be turned into ethanol and other biofuels.
Examples of microbe in a Sentence
Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 25 June 2025
When used as a soil drench, fish emulsion can increase the activity of beneficial soil microbes and make garden soil healthier.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2025
Gut health refers to the optimal functioning of the digestive system, specifically the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the trillions of microbes that live within it, known as the gut microbiome.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Similarly, a rise in Bacteroidota microbes, a group that helps break down carbohydrates and proteins, was also gauged.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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microbe
noun
Medical Definition
microbe
noun
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