vibrio

noun

vib·​rio ˈvi-brē-ˌō 

plural vibrios

: any of a genus (Vibrio) of short rigid motile bacteria that are straight or curved rods and include pathogens causing especially gastrointestinal diseases (such as cholera)

vibrionic

ˌvi-brē-ˈä-nik 

adjective

Examples of vibrio in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There have been spikes in vibrio infections, called vibriosis, in the wake of several major hurricanes that made landfall in the United States, including Katrina in 2005 and Ian in 2022, Dr. Baker-Austin says. —Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Oct. 2024

While diarrhea and vomiting are much more common symptoms of vibrio infections, contracting vibrio vulnificus can require intensive care or amputation and about 20% of people die. —Athena Sobhan, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024

About 80,000 people get vibrio infections each year. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023

In a typical year, the CDC reports about 80,000 people are infected and 100 die from some form of vibrio. —Leada Gore | [e-mail], al, 5 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, Vibrion-, Vibrio, from Latin vibrare to wave

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

vibrio

noun

vib·​rio ˈvib-rē-ō 

1

capitalized : a genus of short rigid motile bacteria of the family Vibrionaceae that are straight or curved rods, have one or sometimes two or three polar flagella enclosed in a sheath, and include various saprophytes and a few pathogens (as V. cholerae, the cause of cholera in humans)

2

: any bacterium of the genus Vibrio

broadly : a curved rod-shaped bacterium