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

Joshua said viral meningitis often resolves on its own, while bacterial meningitis can progress rapidly and requires prompt treatment with antibiotics. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

The search identified potential vault proteins across 29 major bacterial groups and four groups of archaea. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

The nonprofit organization that helps families affected by bacterial illnesses. — Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Ilaria Belluomo, a medical biotechnologist at Imperial College London, and her colleagues are running a study on bacterial and viral signatures in the breath of children hospitalized for severe lung infections. — Marta Zaraaska, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bacterial

• bacterial vaginosis

Rhymes for bacterial

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

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