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

Pet food company Viva Raw LLC of North Carolina recalled a range of raw turkey and beef products earlier this year due to potential listeria contamination. —Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024

Popular Boar's Head recalled millions pounds of deli meats because of possible listeria contamination. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 30 Dec. 2024

Enoki mushrooms Packages of enoki mushrooms sold throughout the U.S. were recalled on Dec. 12 due to fears they were contaminated with listeria. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 17 Dec. 2024

An infant has died and 10 adults have been sickened amid a four-state listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat meat products, officials said. —Joe Kottke, NBC News, 23 Nov. 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