mycobacterium
noun
my·co·bac·te·ri·um
ˌmī-kō-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm 
: any of a genus (Mycobacterium) of nonmotile aerobic acid-fast bacteria that include numerous saprophytes and the pathogens causing tuberculosis and leprosy
Examples of mycobacterium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its symptoms vary widely depending on how the slow-growing mycobacterium that causes the infection progresses across three different stages.
—
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
After stem cell treatments abroad, three Americans became infected by mycobacterium abscessus, a distant relative of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024
Three months later, in October 2023, the victim was diagnosed with a mycobacterium abscessus infection.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Caused by bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis, tuberculosis disease is spread through the air.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
There is a bacterium, a distant cousin of tuberculosis, called mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which can cause coughing, shortness of breath and phlegm production.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 Apr. 2023
Scientists took a closer look at the growth in the lab and discovered that the child had a rare infection with Mycobacterium marinum, a non-tuberculous mycobacterium that more commonly causes a tuberculosis-like illness in fish.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 31 Mar. 2023
Probiotics have generally been regarded as safe, and most trials have confirmed this, but there is not long-term data on using probiotics for an extended period of time, such as the one or two years that people with mycobacterium avium complex typically are treated with antibiotics.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 25 Apr. 2022
Densely packed urban settings, a lack of ventilation, smog, and squalor proved to be an ideal smorgasbord for history’s deadliest mycobacterium.
—Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
After stem cell treatments abroad, three Americans became infected by mycobacterium abscessus, a distant relative of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024
Three months later, in October 2023, the victim was diagnosed with a mycobacterium abscessus infection.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Caused by bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis, tuberculosis disease is spread through the air.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
There is a bacterium, a distant cousin of tuberculosis, called mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which can cause coughing, shortness of breath and phlegm production.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 Apr. 2023
Scientists took a closer look at the growth in the lab and discovered that the child had a rare infection with Mycobacterium marinum, a non-tuberculous mycobacterium that more commonly causes a tuberculosis-like illness in fish.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 31 Mar. 2023
Probiotics have generally been regarded as safe, and most trials have confirmed this, but there is not long-term data on using probiotics for an extended period of time, such as the one or two years that people with mycobacterium avium complex typically are treated with antibiotics.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 25 Apr. 2022
Densely packed urban settings, a lack of ventilation, smog, and squalor proved to be an ideal smorgasbord for history’s deadliest mycobacterium.
—Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mycobacterium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mycobacterium. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mycobacterium
noun
my·co·bac·te·ri·um
-ˈtir-ē-əm
1
capitalized
: a genus of nonmotile acid-fast aerobic bacteria of the family Mycobacteriaceae that are usually slender and difficult to stain and that include the causative agents of tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and leprosy (M. leprae) as well as numerous purely saprophytic forms
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share