E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness see enterobacterium illustration
Examples of E. coli in a Sentence
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Mesa County Public Health was the agency that first investigated last year’s E. coli outbreak linked with raw onions in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, which sickened at least 104 people, killing one, across 14 states.
—
Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
The drug is effective against UTIs caused by E. coli, klebsiella, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Enterococcus faecalis.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025
In 2024, outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths from foodborne pathogens—including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli—increased sharply, with nearly 1,400 illnesses and 19 deaths reported, up from 1,118 illnesses and eight deaths the year prior, according to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Cutting boards are porous and can harbor bacteria like E. coli and salmonella that cause foodborne illness.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
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Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
The drug is effective against UTIs caused by E. coli, klebsiella, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Enterococcus faecalis.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025
In 2024, outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths from foodborne pathogens—including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli—increased sharply, with nearly 1,400 illnesses and 19 deaths reported, up from 1,118 illnesses and eight deaths the year prior, according to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Cutting boards are porous and can harbor bacteria like E. coli and salmonella that cause foodborne illness.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for E. coli
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: a bacterium in the shape of a short rod that may cause intestinal illness
Etymology
short for Escherichia coli, the taxonomic name in biology
Medical Definition
E. coli
nounˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī
plural E. coli also E. colis
: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea
one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of feces—John Schwartz
John Schwartzthis E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis—Ed Geldreich
Ed GeldreichLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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