lactobacillus

noun

lac·​to·​ba·​cil·​lus ˌlak-tō-bə-ˈsi-ləs How to pronounce lactobacillus (audio)
: any of a genus (Lactobacillus) of bacteria that produce lactic acid

Examples of lactobacillus 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.
The elixir pairs ingredients like vitamin E, niacinamide, lactobacillus extract complex, and even SPF 17 to protect against UV rays and improve skin tone, texture, and moisture levels. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025 Case in point: Our favorite base makeup is formulated with skin-loving, acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, anti-inflammatory ingredients (like lactobacillus ferment), and beyond. Annie Blackman, Allure, 7 Sep. 2024 Plus, skin-care mainstay Centella Asiatica (also known as cica) soothes and calms the scalp, while lactobacillus ferment, a probiotic, balances the microbiome to prevent inflammation. Jenny Berg, Allure, 1 Nov. 2024 In healthy women without bacterial vaginosis, lactobacillus crispatus is the dominant bacteria and in those in a dysbiotic state there’s less lactobacillus crispatus and a more diverse microbiota, including bacteria like gardnerella vaginalis. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for lactobacillus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lactobacillus was in 1924

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Cite this Entry

“Lactobacillus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lactobacillus. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

lactobacillus

noun
lac·​to·​ba·​cil·​lus ˌlak-tō-bə-ˈsil-əs How to pronounce lactobacillus (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of gram-positive nonmotile lactic-acid-forming bacteria of the family Lactobacillaceae including various commercially important lactic acid bacteria
2
plural lactobacilli
-ˌī also -ˌē
: any bacterium of the genus Lactobacillus

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