listeria
noun
lis·te·ria
li-ˈstir-ē-ə 
plural listeria
: any of a genus (Listeria) of small, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (Listeria monocytogenes) that causes listeriosis
A common germ found in many foods from raw vegetables to hot dogs, listeria can cause a sometimes fatal disease called listeriosis when present in large quantities.—
Amy Barrett
Amy Barrett
also
: a disease or sickness caused by infection with this bacterium : listeriosis
Listeria symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. —Sierra Brown
Sierra Brown Examples of listeria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, listeria monocytogenes comes from environmental sources like soil and water.
—Kerry E. Kaylegian, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2024
When an ingredient supplier has a salmonella or listeria problem, that ripples to all the supplier’s customers and to that customer’s customers and so on.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for listeria 
Kerry E. Kaylegian, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2024
When an ingredient supplier has a salmonella or listeria problem, that ripples to all the supplier’s customers and to that customer’s customers and so on.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for listeria
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'listeria.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Listeria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listeria. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
listeria
noun
lis·te·ria
lis-ˈtir-ē-ə
1
capitalized
: a genus of small gram-positive flagellated rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores, are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (L. monocytogenes) causing listeriosis
2
: any bacterium of the genus Listeria
called also listerella
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