streptococcus

noun

strep·​to·​coc·​cus ˌstrep-tə-ˈkä-kəs 

plural streptococci ˌstrep-tə-ˈkä-ˌkī 

-(ˌ)kē;

-ˈkäk-ˌsī 

-(ˌ)sē

: any of a genus (Streptococcus) of spherical or ovoid chiefly nonmotile and parasitic gram-positive bacteria that divide only in one plane, occur in pairs or chains, and include important pathogens of humans and domestic animals

broadly : a coccus occurring in chains

Examples of streptococcus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Types Cat probiotics typically contain lactic acid bacteria, including strains such as lactobacillus spp, enterococcus, streptococcus and bifidobacterium. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

Bronchitis can also be caused by bacteria like streptococcus pneumoniae and medical conditions such as GERD or COPD. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025

Walking pneumonia is most often caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, while pneumonia can be caused by bacteria like streptococcus pneumoniae, hemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, or viruses such as influenza, the cold virus, or RSV. —Alice Park, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024

Yet vaccine-preventable illnesses like hepatitis A and B or streptococcus pneumoniae still kill millions every year. —Dylan Matthews, Vox, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for streptococcus

• cryptococcus
• diplococcus
• gonococcus
• micrococcus
• pneumococcus
• caucus
• coccus
• glaucous
• glaucus
• raucous
• echinococcus
• enterococcus

Kids Definition

streptococcus

noun

strep·​to·​coc·​cus ˌstrep-tə-ˈkäk-əs 

plural streptococci -ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī 

-(ˌ)(s)ē

: any of various mostly parasitic round bacteria that occur in pairs or chains and include some that cause diseases in human beings and animals

Medical Definition

streptococcus

noun

strep·​to·​coc·​cus -ˈkäk-əs 

1

capitalized : a genus of spherical or ovoid chiefly nonmotile and parasitic gram-positive bacteria (family Streptococcaceae) that divide only in one plane, occur in pairs or chains, and include important pathogens of humans and domestic animals

2

plural streptococci -ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī  : any bacterium of the genus Streptococcus

broadly : a coccus occurring in chains