E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness see enterobacterium illustration
Examples of E. coli in a Sentence
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The Maryland Department of Health announced Tuesday that areas of the river beginning at Lock 8 and extending downstream in Montgomery County are now open for recreational use after water sampling showed E. coli levels have returned to acceptable standards.
—
Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
At least seven people in three states, including young children, have been sickened by E. coli food poisoning linked to cheddar cheese made from raw milk, federal health officials said Monday.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Analysis of samples from sick patients showed that the E. coli isolates that caused their infections were closely genetically related, investigators found.
—CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Raw milk can carry a host of harmful bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria and Staphylococcus aureus, among many others.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
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Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
At least seven people in three states, including young children, have been sickened by E. coli food poisoning linked to cheddar cheese made from raw milk, federal health officials said Monday.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Analysis of samples from sick patients showed that the E. coli isolates that caused their infections were closely genetically related, investigators found.
—CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Raw milk can carry a host of harmful bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria and Staphylococcus aureus, among many others.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for E. coli
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: a bacterium in the shape of a short rod that may cause intestinal illness
Etymology
short for Escherichia coli, the taxonomic name in biology
Medical Definition
E. coli
nounˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī
plural E. coli also E. colis
: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea
one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of feces—John Schwartz
John Schwartzthis E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis—Ed Geldreich
Ed GeldreichLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
