bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

bacterial infection

bacterially

bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of bacterial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rotate tomatoes to a spot previously occupied by corn, cabbage, or beans to help prevent blight, wilt, bacterial spot, and anthracnose. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025

Insects like mosquitoes, fleas, fire ants, sand flies, and biting midges can transmit bacterial, viral, or parasitic diseases. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025

Researchers practiced bacterial gene sequencing to identify which microbes were present in the participants’ mouths before and after each treatment. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Also, by completely draining the fish of blood, the risk of bacterial growth is minimized and thus the source of the fishy odor is diminished too. —Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bacterial

• bacterial vaginosis

Rhymes for bacterial

• arterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• imperial
• material
• sidereal
• venereal
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• cereal
• virial

Kids Definition

bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

Medical Definition

bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

a bacterial chromosome

bacterial infection

bacterial endocarditis

bacterially

-ə-lē 

adverb