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
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However, the company’s revenue lagged the Street’s estimates, as sales at the U.S. restaurants were affected by an E. coli outbreak in late October.
—
Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2025
Throughout the program’s history, EIS officers have been the first line of defense against anthrax, Ebola, smallpox, polio, E. coli, and, yes, bird flu.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
Raw milk can carry potentially harmful bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella.
—Peter Burke, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
Many involved familiar brands, such as the E. coli contamination of onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches, which led to 104 illnesses, 34 hospitalizations and one death.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
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Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2025
Throughout the program’s history, EIS officers have been the first line of defense against anthrax, Ebola, smallpox, polio, E. coli, and, yes, bird flu.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
Raw milk can carry potentially harmful bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella.
—Peter Burke, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
Many involved familiar brands, such as the E. coli contamination of onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches, which led to 104 illnesses, 34 hospitalizations and one death.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
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 1 Mar. 2025.
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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