microbiology

noun

mi·​cro·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈä-lə-jē 

: a branch of biology dealing with microscopic forms of life

microbiological

ˌmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

or less commonly microbiologic

ˌmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-jik 

microbiologically

ˌmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

microbiologist

ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of microbiology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s how to keep yours free of grime, mold and other harmful bacteria, according to microbiology experts. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026

The finding is a key development for the burgeoning field of fog microbiology, says Eli Dueker, an environmental microbiologist at Bard College, who was not involved in the research. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026

An associate professor of microbiology at the University of Florida, Christner has a photo of Jack Lambert in his office. — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Patricia Simner, who directs the clinical-microbiology molecular laboratory at the Mayo Clinic, told me that some genetic libraries of pathogens are painstakingly curated for accuracy, but others are peppered with inaccuracies. — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microbiology

• aetiology
• anthropology
• archaeology
• archeology
• audiology
• cardiology
• climatology
• cohomology
• cosmetology
• criminology
• demonology
• dermatology

Kids Definition

microbiology

noun

mi·​cro·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈäl-ə-jē 

: a branch of biology concerned especially with microscopic forms of life (as bacteria, protozoans, and viruses)

microbiological

ˈmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

also microbiologic

-ˈläj-ik 

microbiologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

microbiology

noun

mi·​cro·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural microbiologies

: a branch of biology dealing especially with microorganisms (as bacteria and protozoans)

microbiological

ˈmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

also microbiologic

-ˈläj-ik 

microbiological contamination

microbiological research

microbiologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

microbiologically safe water