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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
Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Ecosystems are built on complex relationships among plants, animals, microbes and fungi.
—Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The scientists took advantage of this ability by engineering Bacillus subtilis spores to produce plastic-degrading enzymes, before embedding the dormant microbes directly into a plastic matrix.
—New Atlas, 11 May 2026
Some crews and passengers use vacuums, disinfectants and brushes to keep shoes and equipment free of bugs, feathers, seeds and microbe-carrying dirt, said AP.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for microbe
Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
microbe
noun
Medical Definition
microbe
noun
