E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness see enterobacterium illustration
Examples of E. coli in a Sentence
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They are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, fecal bacteria (indicated by the E. coli species) could be present.
—
Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 11 July 2025
The more resistant strains of gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, did not succumb to any of the natural treatments.
—New Atlas, 9 July 2025
The river is tested daily for E. coli and other harmful bacteria.
—Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 7 July 2025
Axford said, according to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality guidelines, water is considered unsafe if a single sample exceeds 235 colony-forming units of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water or if the average of recent results exceeds 125 colony-forming units.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
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Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 11 July 2025
The more resistant strains of gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, did not succumb to any of the natural treatments.
—New Atlas, 9 July 2025
The river is tested daily for E. coli and other harmful bacteria.
—Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 7 July 2025
Axford said, according to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality guidelines, water is considered unsafe if a single sample exceeds 235 colony-forming units of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water or if the average of recent results exceeds 125 colony-forming units.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for E. coli
Cite this Entry
“E. coli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/E.%20coli. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
E. coli
noun
plural E. coli
: a bacterium in the shape of a short rod that may cause intestinal illness
Etymology
short for Escherichia coli, the taxonomic name in biology
Medical Definition
E. coli
nounˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī
plural E. coli also E. colis
: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea
one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of feces—John Schwartz
John Schwartzthis E. coli can survive … longer than all the other E. colis—Ed Geldreich
Ed GeldreichLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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