nonbacterial

adjective

non·​bac·​te·​ri·​al ˌnän-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce nonbacterial (audio)
: not bacterial : not consisting of, resulting from, or caused by bacteria
nonbacterial gastroenteritis

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For example, doctors prescribing antibiotics for nonbacterial infections and patients not completing their prescribed course of treatment give bacteria the chance to evolve resistance. Andre Hudson, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2021 This is ciguatera, a nonbacterial foodborne illness from seafood affecting between 50,000 and 500,000 people each year. Brianna Randall, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2020 This effect has been observed for other viral diseases, such as influenza and nonbacterial pneumonia, and is clearly an important consideration, especially when so many people are encountering a novel virus for the first time as adults. Zeynep Tufekci, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2021 Doctors learned that the patient featured in the NEJM report had a type of endocarditis called nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Maggie O'neill, Health.com, 13 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nonbacterial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonbacterial was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near nonbacterial

Cite this Entry

“Nonbacterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbacterial. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

nonbacterial

adjective
non·​bac·​te·​ri·​al -bak-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce nonbacterial (audio)
: not of, relating to, caused by, or being bacteria
nonbacterial pneumonia
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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