plural germs
1
a
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts
b
: the embryo with the scutellum of a cereal grain that is usually separated from the starchy endosperm during milling
3
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
Examples of germ in a Sentence
the germ that causes tuberculosis
the germ of an idea
the germ layers of an embryo
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, the more diverse the microbiome, the better we’re protected from germs, as a Stanford study shows.
—
Desireé Oostland, Vogue, 22 May 2025
It’s designed to capture nearly all (99.9%) airborne germs via its HEPA filter while a UV-C light reduces viruses and bacteria even in large spaces.
—Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025
The bran and the germ contain important nutrients, such as fiber, iron, and B vitamins.78
This makes whole wheat bread higher in nutrients, like protein and fiber, than refined white bread, which is made from refined grains that have had their germ and bran removed.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 20 May 2025
Some people become infected with TB germs that live in the body for years without causing illness.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for germ
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Desireé Oostland, Vogue, 22 May 2025
It’s designed to capture nearly all (99.9%) airborne germs via its HEPA filter while a UV-C light reduces viruses and bacteria even in large spaces.
—Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025
The bran and the germ contain important nutrients, such as fiber, iron, and B vitamins.78
This makes whole wheat bread higher in nutrients, like protein and fiber, than refined white bread, which is made from refined grains that have had their germ and bran removed.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 20 May 2025
Some people become infected with TB germs that live in the body for years without causing illness.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for germ
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
germ
noun1
a
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into a whole individual or one of its parts
b
: the embryo in the seed of a cereal (as corn or wheat) together with its cotyledon that is usually separated from the starchy part of the seed during milling
2
: something that serves as an origin
the germ of an idea
3
: a microscopic living thing
especially
: one that causes disease
Medical Definition
germ
noun1
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts
2
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
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