bacteriophage

noun

bac·​te·​ri·​o·​phage bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌfāj 

also

-ˌfäzh 

plural bacteriophages

: a virus that infects bacteria : phage

Much smaller than the bacteria they attack, bacteriophages cannot grow and multiply on their own.

—C. Claiborne Ray

The genes were amplified by using PCR [=polymerase chain reaction] and inserted into … a bacteriophage of E. coli.

—Ricki Lewis

bacteriophagy

(ˌ)bak-ˌtir-ē-ˈä-fə-jē 

noun

Examples of bacteriophage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Power of Phage At the heart of Parallel Health’s innovation is its unique approach to phage therapy, a treatment method that uses microbes called bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections: precision antibiotics, but safe and natural. —WWD, 14 Feb. 2025

But just as a left glove doesn’t fit a right hand, natural bacteriophages wouldn’t recognize mirror cell receptors or be able to use its machinery. —Kate Adamala, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2025

The solution teems with bacteriophages, viruses resembling tiny rocket ships. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 31 Dec. 2024

With anything intestinal or urinary tract infections, bacteriophages can go very far. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bacteriophage

noun

bac·​te·​rio·​phage

bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌfāj,

-ˌfāzh

: any of various viruses that specifically attack bacteria

Medical Definition

bacteriophage

noun

bac·​te·​ri·​o·​phage bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌfāj  -ˌfäzh 

: a virus that infects bacteria : phage

Bacteriophages invade bacterial cells and burst them open before they have a chance to produce lactic acid.

—Diana Morgan and Terence Monmaney, Science

bacteriophagy

(ˌ)bak-ˌtir-ē-ˈäf-ə-jē 

noun