plural E. coli
: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness see enterobacterium illustration

Examples of E. coli in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2023 and 2024, outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella infections were traced back to raw milk. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024 Some of the most common bugs that contaminate food include E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter, staphylococcus, listeria and norovirus. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024 Other ongoing recalls include 10 cucumber recalls connected to a salmonella outbreak, carrots recalled due to possible E. coli contamination and cocktail mix recalled due to undeclared allergens. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024 McAfee's products have been linked to several outbreaks of E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter, according to the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research. Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for E. coli 

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of E. coli was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near E. coli

ecol

E. coli

e-collar

Cite this Entry

“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

E. coli

noun
plural E. coli
: a bacterium in the shape of a short rod that may cause intestinal illness
Etymology

short for Escherichia coli, the taxonomic name in biology

Medical Definition

E. coli

noun
ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī
plural E. coli also E. colis
: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea
one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of fecesJohn Schwartz
this E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colisEd Geldreich
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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