probiotic

noun

pro·bi·ot·ic | \ prō-bī-ˈä-tik

, -bē-ˈä-\

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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And there was snack food — lots and lots of snack food, each purporting to have more amino acids or fiber or probiotics than the last. — Liza Zwirn, BostonGlobe.com, "At the Fancy Food Show, vegan and vegetarian foods dominate," 5 Aug. 2019 Through a free, hour-long course called Seed University, influencers are schooled on the science of microbiomes and probiotics, as well as the FTC’s guidelines on responsible product endorsement. — Anne Quito, Quartzy, "A new “university” for Instagram influencers aims to stop the spread of misinformation," 23 July 2019 Living microorganisms with health benefits are known as probiotics, but Cani found that Akkermansia muciniphila was most effective when pasteurized, or killed through heat. — Arman Azad, CNN, "This bacteria may help people with obesity live healthier lives, study says," 3 July 2019 Taking a probiotic may also be helpful, according to the Mayo Clinic. — Haley Swanson, Glamour, "What Is Bacterial Vaginosis? And Why Do I Keep Getting It?," 27 May 2019 In many ways, the study is pretty typical of those on probiotics. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "New York Times falls for “obesity probiotic” hype," 5 July 2019 According to Intralytix, the phages have applications in environmental sanitation and as probiotics — killing the bad stuff, keeping the good stuff. — B David Zarley, The Verge, "These superbug-fighting viruses are making a comeback," 5 July 2019 Creating smart probiotics could not only improve the performance of next generation athletes but also improve the health of patients with certain metabolic disorders or diseases, such as diabetes, the researchers believe. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Could the poo of elite athletes provide an ingredient to improve physical performance?," 25 June 2019 All probiotics are not created equal and some can even worsen allergies (based on my experience). — Steven Macari, Harper's BAZAAR, "The 9 Best Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies," 15 May 2019

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.

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13 Aug 2019

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The first known use of probiotic was in 1974

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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