E. coli
noun
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
As residents of Imperial Beach, they were used to treating surfers at the South Bay Urgent Care Center sickened by E. coli and other bacteria after defying beach advisories to stay out of the water.
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Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
More than 80 percent of infections are caused by E. coli, and in a 2022 report, the World Health Organization found that one in five UTI infections caused by E. coli showed reduced susceptibility to standard antibiotics like ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, and fluoroquinolones.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 Sep. 2024
When people or animals defecate near a water source, or sewage isn’t effectively contained, E. coli appears in drinking water downstream.
—Celia Ford, Vox, 15 Aug. 2024
In fact, cutting boards can actually hold 200 times more E. coli than a toilet seat1.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for E. coli 
Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
More than 80 percent of infections are caused by E. coli, and in a 2022 report, the World Health Organization found that one in five UTI infections caused by E. coli showed reduced susceptibility to standard antibiotics like ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, and fluoroquinolones.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 Sep. 2024
When people or animals defecate near a water source, or sewage isn’t effectively contained, E. coli appears in drinking water downstream.
—Celia Ford, Vox, 15 Aug. 2024
In fact, cutting boards can actually hold 200 times more E. coli than a toilet seat1.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for E. coli
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'E. coli.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
nounˌē-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 feces—John Schwartz
John Schwartzthis E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis—Ed Geldreich
Ed GeldreichLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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