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

The Bottom Line Pink spots or streaks on cheese can be caused by several different factors, ranging from harmless color changes to bacterial growth. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025

This not only improves the look of your yard but helps prevent fungal and bacterial issues carrying over to next year’s garden. —Brendel Clark, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025

The blue section of the figure shows an experimental research pipeline that led to a discovery of DNA transfer among bacterial species. —Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Sep. 2025

Combatting The Spread of NDM To combat the threat, the CDC is urging stronger surveillance, genomic sequencing of bacterial strains, aggressive infection-control measures, and investment in new antibiotics and diagnostics. —Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 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