salmonella

noun

sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈne-lə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
plural salmonellae ˌsal-mə-ˈne-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
-ˌlī
 or salmonellas or salmonella
: any of a genus (Salmonella) of usually motile enterobacteria that are pathogenic for humans and other warm-blooded animals and cause food poisoning, gastrointestinal inflammation, typhoid fever, or septicemia

Examples of salmonella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Some of the most common bacteria that cause this form of dysentery include shigella, salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025 Strep throat, salmonella, mycoplasma infections, and Lyme disease can all cause vaginal ulcers.2 A yeast infection (a type of fungal infection) can also sometimes lead to vaginal or vulvar ulcers. — Wendy Wisner, Health, 28 Feb. 2025 Scientists and statisticians working in the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska, which studies livestock genetics and breeding, were also terminated, including those working on research projects in food safety and salmonella testing. — Emily Anthes, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 Like raw meat and poultry, eggs can harbor salmonella bacteria, so an eggy explosion could put those bugs in contact with other items in the freezer. — Caroline Tien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for salmonella

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Daniel E. Salmon †1914 American veterinarian

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salmonella was in 1913

Rhymes for salmonella

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Browse Nearby Words

salmonella
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Cite this Entry

“Salmonella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salmonella. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

salmonella

noun
sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈnel-ə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
plural salmonellae -ˈnel-ē How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
-ˌī
 or salmonellas or salmonella
: any of a genus of rod-shaped bacteria that cause various illnesses (as food poisoning) in human beings and other warm-blooded animals

Medical Definition

salmonella

noun
sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈnel-ə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of aerobic gram-negative rod-shaped nonspore-forming usually motile bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that grow well on artificial media and form acid and gas on many carbohydrates but not on lactose, sucrose, or salicin, that are pathogenic for humans and other warm-blooded animals, and that cause food poisoning, acute gastrointestinal inflammation, typhoid fever, and septicemia
2
plural salmonellae -ˈnel-ē How to pronounce salmonella (audio) or salmonellas or salmonella : any bacterium of the genus Salmonella

More from Merriam-Webster on salmonella

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about salmonella

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