noun Uncommon

coli

KOH-leye

Coli (noun) means short for Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium normally living in the gut, some strains of which cause food poisoning. Example: “The lab test came back positive for coli contamination.”

noun

Short for Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium normally living in the gut, some strains of which cause food poisoning.

"The lab test came back positive for coli contamination."

How to Use Coli

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe species name people usually mean is E. coli, the gut bacterium linked to food poisoning outbreaks.

Easily confused with

colon →

Word Forms

coli plural

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Fill the Gap

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The lab test came back positive for _____ contamination.

Etymology

A shortened scientific name, from Latin coli, meaning "of the colon" — because the bacterium lives in the large intestine.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for coli

Oli Holi goli Tivoli Tripoli cannoli broccoli Gallipoli

See all rhymes for coli →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “coli” mean?

The word “coli” means short for Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium normally living in the gut, some strains of which cause food poisoning. In plain terms, the species name people usually mean is E. coli, the gut bacterium linked to food poisoning outbreaks.

How do you pronounce “coli”?

“Coli” is pronounced KOH-leye (/ˈkoʊ.laɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “coli” in a sentence?

Here is “coli” used in a sentence: “The lab test came back positive for coli contamination.”

What part of speech is “coli”?

“Coli” is a noun.

Where does the word “coli” come from?

The word “coli” comes from Latin. A shortened scientific name, from Latin coli, meaning "of the colon" — because the bacterium lives in the large intestine.

Is “coli” a common word?

“Coli” is an uncommon word in modern English.