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Showing results for bacterium.
Definitions

bacterium

[bak-teer-ee-uhm] / bækˈtɪər i əm /
NOUN
cell
Synonyms
STRONGEST
egg germ unit
STRONG
corpuscle embryo follicle microorganism spore utricle vacuole
WEAK
cellule haematid
NOUN
ferment
Synonyms
STRONG
bacteria barm ebullition enzyme leaven leavening mold seethe simmer yeast
WEAK
fermentation agent
Antonyms
WEAK
calm contentedness happiness peace pleasure
NOUN
germ
Synonyms
STRONGEST
antibody bug disease microbe microorganism pathogen virus
WEAK
parasite what's going around
NOUN
microbe
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bacillus bug germ microorganism pathogen virus
STRONG
crud plague
NOUN
microorganism
Synonyms
STRONGEST
microbe pathogen virus
STRONG
bug disease
WEAK
disease-causing agent parasite

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In research published in Nature Microbiology, the team used a deep sequencing-based screening method to pinpoint the genes involved in GTA activity in the model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

One lowly bacterium possesses a flagellum—a tiny tail or rotor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Flea-borne typhus is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

An initial genetic analysis of the bacterium causing the outbreak was concluded on Thursday.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

By some standards, it is about as smart as a grasshopper; by others, only as intelligent as a bacterium.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Vocabulary lists containing bacterium

Unit 8: Vocabulary from Readings 1

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