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A hint of the Greek word bios, meaning "life", can be seen in microbe. Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes, and most of them are essential to our life. Much research is now going into possible microbial sources of future energy; algae looks particularly promising, as do certain newly discovered or created microbes that can produce cellulose, to be turned into ethanol and other biofuels.
Examples of microbe in a Sentence
Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Not every product made through fermentation delivers those microbes to your plate, though.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Neem oil breaks down quickly once it is exposed to light and microbes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
And fiber is also the primary fuel source for the trillions of microbes that live in your gut and influence many aspects of health - from your immune system to mood, notes Holscher, whose research focuses on the microbiome.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 18 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
microbe
noun
Medical Definition
microbe
noun
