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
At least 104 people have been sickened, with 34 hospitalized, in an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning tied to onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, federal health officials said Wednesday.
—
Jonel Aleccia, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
McDonald’s temporarily stopped selling Quarter Pounders in about one-fifth of its restaurants until testing ruled out beef patties as the E. coli source.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
Nearly 100 people have fallen ill after onions served in burgers from McDonald's were found to be contaminated with E. coli, a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
More than 80% of people with E. coli interviewed by government investigators reported eating McDonald’s items containing fresh, slivered onions, the FDA noted.
—Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for E. coli 
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Jonel Aleccia, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
McDonald’s temporarily stopped selling Quarter Pounders in about one-fifth of its restaurants until testing ruled out beef patties as the E. coli source.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
Nearly 100 people have fallen ill after onions served in burgers from McDonald's were found to be contaminated with E. coli, a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
More than 80% of people with E. coli interviewed by government investigators reported eating McDonald’s items containing fresh, slivered onions, the FDA noted.
—Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for E. coli
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 19 Nov. 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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