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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Some of the most common bacteria that cause this form of dysentery include shigella, salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
In fact, the water-shedding version of the glass proved to be effective at capturing E. coli.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2025
Another notable recall included McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, which were served with slivers of onions contaminated with E. coli.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 1 Mar. 2025
The company’s recent earnings report was impacted by an E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions on its Quarter Pounders, which sickened hundreds of customers.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2025
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Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
In fact, the water-shedding version of the glass proved to be effective at capturing E. coli.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2025
Another notable recall included McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, which were served with slivers of onions contaminated with E. coli.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 1 Mar. 2025
The company’s recent earnings report was impacted by an E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions on its Quarter Pounders, which sickened hundreds of customers.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2025
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 12 Mar. 2025.
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
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