staphylococcus

noun

staph·​y·​lo·​coc·​cus ˌsta-f(ə-)lō-ˈkä-kəs 

plural staphylococci ˌsta-f(ə-)lō-ˈkä-ˌkī 

-(ˌ)kē;

-ˈkäk-ˌsī 

-(ˌ)sē

: any of a genus (Staphylococcus) of nonmotile gram-positive spherical bacteria that occur singly, in pairs or tetrads, or in irregular clusters and include causative agents of various diseases (such as skin infections, food poisoning, and endocarditis)

Examples of staphylococcus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The results showed staphylococcus and pseudomonas, two types of bacteria that can cause infection under the right circumstances. —Chris Haslam, WIRED, 19 Feb. 2025

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria and usually only cause minor skin infections, according to the Mayo Clinic, though the infections can become more serious if the bacteria enters the bloodstream and travels to the host's bones, heart or lungs. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2023

Lucy Moreton, an officer and former general secretary of the Union for Borders, Immigration and Customs, said that illnesses such as drug-resistant staphylococcus infections, scabies and diphtheria had all been detected among asylum seekers at Manston. —Euan Ward, New York Times, 4 Nov. 2022

This 1997 study showed that undiluted vinegar had some effect on E. coli and salmonella, but a study conducted in 2000 showed no real impact against E. coli or S. aureus, the common staphylococcus bacteria responsible for most skin and soft tissue infections. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 30 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek staphylē bunch of grapes + New Latin -coccus

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for staphylococcus

• echinococcus
• enterococcus
• meningococcus
• caucus
• coccus
• glaucous
• glaucus
• raucous
• cryptococcus
• diplococcus
• gonococcus
• micrococcus

Kids Definition

staphylococcus

noun

staph·​y·​lo·​coc·​cus ˌstaf-(ə-)lō-ˈkäk-əs 

plural staphylococci -ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī 

-(ˌ)(s)ē

: any of a group of round bacteria that cause various diseases (as food poisoning and skin infections) and that occur especially in irregular clusters

staphylococcal

-ˈkäk-əl

adjective

also staphylococcic

-ˈkäk-(s)ik

Medical Definition

staphylococcus

noun

staph·​y·​lo·​coc·​cus ˌstaf-ə-lō-ˈkäk-əs 

1

capitalized : a genus of nonmotile gram-positive spherical bacteria that is placed in either of two families (Staphylococcaceae or Micrococcaceae), contains forms occurring singly, in pairs or tetrads, or in irregular clusters, and includes causative agents of various diseases and disorders (as food poisoning, skin infections, and endocarditis)

2

plural staphylococci -ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī  : any bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus

broadly : micrococcus sense 2