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
3
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
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
Pets and humans track dirt, water and germs back and forth over them all day, every day, and keeping them clean feels like an impossible dream.
Enter the washable rug.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
The premise of this all-foam mattress is the use of green tea and charcoal infused in its memory foam layers to keep out moisture that could result in germ and odor buildup.
—Julia Forbes, Wired News, 11 July 2025
Picking up forks by their prongs with your fingers, especially if unwashed, can just cause the build up of germs and bacteria, negating some of the work your dishwasher just accomplished.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
Social connections establish pathways of influence that can facilitate the spread of germs, mental illness and even behaviors.
—Shaon Lahiri, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for germ
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The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
The premise of this all-foam mattress is the use of green tea and charcoal infused in its memory foam layers to keep out moisture that could result in germ and odor buildup.
—Julia Forbes, Wired News, 11 July 2025
Picking up forks by their prongs with your fingers, especially if unwashed, can just cause the build up of germs and bacteria, negating some of the work your dishwasher just accomplished.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
Social connections establish pathways of influence that can facilitate the spread of germs, mental illness and even behaviors.
—Shaon Lahiri, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for germ
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
germ
noun1
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
noun1
: 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
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