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

Shipley, who lives in central Florida, had recently been prescribed the drops for a bacterial infection. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs that is normally spread through the air. —Chris Morris, Fortune Well, 31 Oct. 2024

According to the World Health Organization, bacterial antibiotic resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths around the world in 2019. —New Atlas, 31 Oct. 2024

This set of symptoms is often caused by viral or bacterial illness, including food poisoning. —Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bacterial

• bacterial vaginosis

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