bacterial

adjective

bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce bacterial (audio)
: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria
bacterial infection
bacterially
bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-lē How to pronounce bacterial (audio)
adverb

Examples of bacterial 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.
The goat tested positive for caseous lymphadenitis, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal to animals and can be transmitted to humans through meat or milk, according to vet records from OSU obtained by the Statesman. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026 The disease contributed to blood loss, anemia and a serious secondary bacterial infection. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Future work will examine whether reproducing more of the intestine’s physical and chemical conditions can help maintain bacterial activity and improve performance. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 Although generally hardy, the plant is susceptible to certain diseases, including anthracnose and bacterial soft rot, as well as pests such as spider mites, caterpillars, and whiteflies. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bacterial

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacterial was in 1869

Phrases Containing bacterial

Rhymes for bacterial

See All Rhymes for bacterial

Browse Nearby Words

bacteriacide
bacterial
bacterial blight
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bacterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacterial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

bacterial

adjective
bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce bacterial (audio)
: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria

Medical Definition

bacterial

adjective
bac·​te·​ri·​al bak-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce bacterial (audio)
: of, relating to, or caused by bacteria
a bacterial chromosome
bacterial infection
bacterial endocarditis
bacterially
-ə-lē How to pronounce bacterial (audio)
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All