listeria

noun

lis·​te·​ria li-ˈstir-ē-ə 

plural listeria

: any of a genus (Listeria) of small, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (Listeria monocytogenes) that causes listeriosis

A common germ found in many foods from raw vegetables to hot dogs, listeria can cause a sometimes fatal disease called listeriosis when present in large quantities.

—Amy Barrett

also : a disease or sickness caused by infection with this bacterium : listeriosis

Listeria symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

—Sierra Brown

Examples of listeria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most individuals infected with listeria—a condition called listeriosis—only have short-term symptoms of food poisoning, which may include high fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Symptoms start around two weeks after eating food contaminated with listeria. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024

At the same time, Detwiler says advances in testing technologies like whole genome sequencing mean overseers may be getting better at detecting signs of listeria earlier, which in turn, results in more recalls. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 24 Oct. 2024

In the midst of an ownership legal battle and an ongoing recall due to a listeria outbreak, which food manufacturer has also been accused of violating workplace safety issues and tolerating vulgar office behavior? —Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Listeria, from Joseph Lister

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

listeria

noun

lis·​te·​ria lis-ˈtir-ē-ə 

1

capitalized : a genus of small gram-positive flagellated rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores, are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (L. monocytogenes) causing listeriosis

2

: any bacterium of the genus Listeria

called also listerella

listerial

lis-ˈtir-ē-əl 

adjective

listeric

-ik 

adjective