food poisoning

noun

: an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic products or by chemical residues in food

Examples of food poisoning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To recap, Salmonella is the most common form of bacterial food poisoning in the US, affecting more than a million people each year. —New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2025

Consuming chicken broth spoiled by bacteria can lead to food poisoning. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 13 Jan. 2025

The most familiar culprit is Salmonella, a bacterium that can result in a severe bout of food poisoning, causing diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 10 Jan. 2025

These bacteria may lead to foodborne illness or food poisoning. —Kumkum S. Patel, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

food poisoning

noun

: a digestive sickness caused by bacteria or by chemicals in food

Medical Definition

food poisoning

noun

1

: either of two acute gastrointestinal disorders caused by bacteria or their toxic products:

a

: a rapidly developing intoxication marked by nausea, vomiting, prostration, and often severe diarrhea and caused by the presence in food of toxic products produced by bacteria (as some staphylococci)

b

: a less rapidly developing infection especially with salmonellae that has generally similar symptoms and that results from multiplication of bacteria ingested with contaminated food

2

: a gastrointestinal disturbance occurring after consumption of food that is contaminated with chemical residues (as from sprays) or food (as some fungi) that is inherently unsuitable for human consumption