probiotic

noun pro·bi·ot·ic \ prō-bī-ˈä-tik , -bē-ˈä- \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of probiotic

: a microorganism (such as lactobacillus) that when consumed (as in a food or a dietary supplement) maintains or restores beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract; also : a product or preparation that contains such microorganisms — compare prebiotic

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probiotic

adjective

Recent Examples of probiotic from the Web

The benefits of goat milk for dogs are touted to range from helping with tummy issues (pups need probiotics too), relieving allergies (by fighting yeast), and curbing arthritis and joint pain (the milk is said to reduce inflammation).

— Sunset, "10 Best Healthy Pet Treats," 22 Jan. 2018
New lines have interesting mixes of fruit and nuts, and some producers are experimenting with millennial-friendly additions like probiotics and chia seeds.

— kim severson, New York Times, "Is America Ready to Love Cottage Cheese Again?," 26 June 2018
Dear sister, Spirits were low in the medic tent as supplies of probiotics and arnica dwindle.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "Letters from the 'front' on Twitter mock prediction of second Civil War on July 4," 3 July 2018
To make their sensor, engineers and biologists turned to a bacterium commonly sold as a probiotic in Europe.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Bacteria in a pill may one day track your body’s chemistry," 24 May 2018
But this slightly gross disk of slime is also a wonderfully magical mass of bacteria and yeast that turns plain old tea and sugar into a fizzy, fermented sip of awesomeness loaded with antioxidants, B vitamins, and probiotics.

— allison young, Good Housekeeping, "How To Finally Learn To Make Your Own Delicious Kombucha," 16 Jan. 2018
Examples of physical issues and probiotics used to address them: Irritable bowel syndrome: VSL#3, which contains Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus strains.

— lori nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Chin Up: The body's second brain — the gut — and how to keep it healthy," 13 June 2018
Some researchers see potential in probiotics, but the case for them requires more investigation, and there are no established protocols for how much or what strains to consume for various purposes.

— Fortune, "Why Washing Your Hands Too Much Could Make You Sick," 12 June 2018
Prebiotics feed the bacteria already in your gut, while probiotics are live bacteria that are good for your digestive system.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Stock your garden with gut-friendly produce," 2 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of probiotic

²pro- + -biotic (as in antibiotic)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1974

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

probiotic

noun pro·bi·ot·ic \ prō-bī-ˈät-ik, -bē- \

medical Definition of probiotic

: a microorganism (such as lactobacillus or bifidobacterium) that when consumed (as in a food or a dietary supplement) maintains or restores beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract; also : a product or preparation that contains such microorganisms — compare prebiotic

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