rickettsia
noun
rick·ett·sia
ri-ˈket-sē-ə 
plural rickettsias or rickettsiae
ri-ˈket-sē-ˌē
-ˌī
also rickettsia
: any of a various gram-negative, parasitic bacteria (order Rickettsiales and especially genus Rickettsia) that are transmitted by biting arthropods (such as lice or ticks) and cause a number of serious diseases (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus)
Note: Rickettsia are often pleomorphic, and may be coccoid, rod-shaped, or irregularly-shaped.
Examples of rickettsia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tidewater fever, or rickettsia parkeri, is a form of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
—
Michael Reschke, Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2019
Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases such as Borrelia burgdoferi, also known as Lyme disease, and Rickettsia rickettsia that can cause Rocky Mountain Spotty Fever.
—Gabriela Moraru, M.d., miamiherald, 4 June 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Michael Reschke, Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2019
Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases such as Borrelia burgdoferi, also known as Lyme disease, and Rickettsia rickettsia that can cause Rocky Mountain Spotty Fever.
—Gabriela Moraru, M.d., miamiherald, 4 June 2018
Dictionary Entries Near rickettsia
Cite this Entry
“Rickettsia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rickettsia. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rickettsia
noun
rick·ett·sia
rik-ˈet-sē-ə
plural rickettsias or rickettsiae
-sē-ˌē
-sē-ˌī
: any of various bacteria including several that cause diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus) in human beings
Medical Definition
rickettsia
noun
rick·ett·sia
ri-ˈket-sē-ə
1
capitalized
: a genus of rod-shaped, coccoid, or diplococcus-shaped often pleomorphic bacteria (family Rickettsiaceae) that are transmitted by biting arthropods (as lice or ticks) and cause a number of serious diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus)
2
plural rickettsiae
-ˌē
also rickettsias or rickettsia
: any bacterium of the genus Rickettsia, the family Rickettsiaceae, or the order Rickettsiales
also rickettsias or rickettsia
: any bacterium of the genus Rickettsia, the family Rickettsiaceae, or the order Rickettsiales
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share