botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbä-chə-ˌli-zəm 

: acute food poisoning that is caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterial clostridium (Clostridium botulinum) and is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate

Examples of botulism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the United States, a growing cluster of botulism cases linked to cosmetic injections was reported in Massachusetts earlier this month. —Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

No one has become ill in connection with the affected products, according to the recall, but an issue with the easy-open pull tabs may cause the cans to leak over time or become contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism. —Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025

The resulting abundance of flies could then carry and spread diseases like botulism, anthrax, E. coli, and Salmonella. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2025

Walker's Wine Juice LLC of Forestville, New York, recalled its pumpkin juice on March 28 due to possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that can cause botulism, a serious illness that affects the nervous system. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for botulism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm 

: poisoning caused by eating food containing a toxin made by a spore-forming bacterium

Medical Definition

botulism

noun

bot·​u·​lism ˈbäch-ə-ˌliz-əm 

: acute food poisoning caused by botulinum toxin produced in food by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. botulinum) and characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate see botulinum toxin, limberneck