noun
Uncommon
salmonella
sal-muh-NEH-luh
Salmonella (noun) means a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning and typhoid-like illness. Example: “The eggs were recalled after tests found salmonella on the shells.”
noun
1
A type of bacteria that causes food poisoning and typhoid-like illness.
"The eggs were recalled after tests found salmonella on the shells."
2
The illness caused by this bacteria, usually from contaminated food.
"He came down with salmonella after eating undercooked chicken at the barbecue."
How to use salmonella
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBacteria that causes food poisoning, or the food poisoning itself.
Common mistake
Capitalized (Salmonella) when referring to the scientific genus name; lowercase when talking about the illness generally.
Common pairings
salmonella outbreak
salmonella poisoning
test positive for salmonella
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Word forms
- Plural
- salmonellas, salmonellae
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The eggs were recalled after tests found _____ on the shells.
Etymology
Named after Daniel Elmer Salmon, the American scientist who first identified the bacteria in the late 1800s.
Class of 1800
salmonella joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Rhymes for salmonella
See all rhymes for salmonella →Frequently asked questions
What does “salmonella” mean?
The word “salmonella” means a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning and typhoid-like illness. In plain terms, bacteria that causes food poisoning, or the food poisoning itself.
How do you pronounce “salmonella”?
“Salmonella” is pronounced sal-muh-NEH-luh (/ˌsæl.məˈnɛ.lə/ in IPA).
How do you use “salmonella” in a sentence?
Here is “salmonella” used in a sentence: “The eggs were recalled after tests found salmonella on the shells.”
What part of speech is “salmonella”?
“Salmonella” is a noun.
Where does the word “salmonella” come from?
The word “salmonella” dates back to around 1800. Named after Daniel Elmer Salmon, the American scientist who first identified the bacteria in the late 1800s.
Is “salmonella” a common word?
“Salmonella” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “salmonella” have?
“Salmonella” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning and typhoid-like illness.
