mycoplasma

noun

my·​co·​plas·​ma ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-mə 

plural mycoplasmas also mycoplasmata ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-mə-tə 

: any of a genus (Mycoplasma of the family Mycoplasmataceae) of pleomorphic gram-negative chiefly nonmotile bacteria that lack a cell wall and are mostly parasitic usually in mammals

called also pleuropneumonia-like organism

mycoplasmal

ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-məl 

adjective

Examples of mycoplasma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Future of Medicare drug price negotiations murky under Donald Trump Scripps Health reported an increase in positive mycoplasma pneumoniae tests recently with nearly 40 recorded in October compared to less than 10 in September. —Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024

But the numbers have been even more eye-popping for walking pneumonia, which is caused by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae. —Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024

Then Munro caught a mycoplasma infection from her daughter. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Medically known as mycoplasma pneumonia, this is a bacteria that causes respiratory tract infections, LaPook explained, adding there can be a range of no symptoms to mild and severe symptoms. —Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mycoplasma

• mycoplasma-like organism

Medical Definition

mycoplasma

noun

my·​co·​plas·​ma ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-mə 

1

capitalized : the type genus of the family Mycoplasmataceae containing minute pleomorphic gram-negative chiefly nonmotile bacteria that are mostly parasitic usually in mammals see pleuropneumonia sense 2

2

plural mycoplasmas also mycoplasmata -mət-ə  : any bacterium of the genus Mycoplasma or of the family Mycoplasmataceae

called also pleuropneumonia-like organism, PPLO

mycoplasmal

-məl 

adjective