ptomaine poisoning

noun

: food poisoning caused by bacteria or bacterial products

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of ptomaine poisoning was in 1888

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

ptomaine

ptomaine poisoning

ptomatine

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ptomaine poisoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ptomaine%20poisoning. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

ptomaine poisoning

noun

: food poisoning caused by bacteria or their products

Medical Definition

ptomaine poisoning

noun

: food poisoning caused by bacteria or bacterial products

—not used technically

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Should that word have a hyphen?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

ptomaine poisoning

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on ptomaine poisoning

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

desultory