botulism
noun
bot·u·lism
ˈbä-chə-ˌli-zəm 
: acute food poisoning that is caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterial clostridium (Clostridium botulinum) and is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate
Examples of botulism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin that causes botulism.
—
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Vultures also have extremely strong stomach acid, don’t get food poisoning and are able to consume and neutralize anthrax, botulism and other bacteria and toxins in carcasses that would kill other animals, removing deadly threats from the environment.
—Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Person to person transmission of botulism does not occur.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Foods processed to prevent spoilage but not usually refrigerated are the most common vehicles of botulism.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botulism
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Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Vultures also have extremely strong stomach acid, don’t get food poisoning and are able to consume and neutralize anthrax, botulism and other bacteria and toxins in carcasses that would kill other animals, removing deadly threats from the environment.
—Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Person to person transmission of botulism does not occur.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Foods processed to prevent spoilage but not usually refrigerated are the most common vehicles of botulism.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botulism
Cite this Entry
“Botulism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botulism. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
botulism
noun
bot·u·lism
ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm
: poisoning caused by eating food containing a toxin made by a spore-forming bacterium
Medical Definition
botulism
noun
bot·u·lism
ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm
: acute food poisoning caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. botulinum) and characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate see botulinum toxin, limberneck
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