germ

noun

ˈjərm 

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

2

: something that initiates development or serves as an origin : rudiments, beginning

3

: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus)

broadly : microorganism

Synonyms

• fountainhead
• origin
• root
• seed
• seedbed

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

Hoppus' fear of germs intensified amid his fallout with Tom DeLonge and after Travis Barker's plane crash in 2008, which also killed his friend. —Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Lab studies have also found peppermint to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties, which may help keep harmful germs at bay.13 7. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2025

However, bathrooms can hide a lot of germs that aren't visible without one of those CSI blue lights. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025

Starr greeted me with a light fist bump, in keeping with his hypervigilance about avoiding germs. —Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French germe, from Latin germin-, germen, from gignere to beget — more at kin

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing germ

• germ cell
• germ-free
• germ layer
• germ line
• germ plasm
• germ theory
• germ warfare
• wheat germ

Rhymes for germ

• berm
• ferm
• firm
• herm
• sperm
• squirm
• term
• therm
• worm
• wurm
• affirm
• bookworm

Kids Definition

germ

noun

ˈjərm 

1

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

noun

ˈjərm 

1

: 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