noun
staph
staf
noun
1
A common type of bacteria (Staphylococcus) that lives on skin and can cause infections ranging from minor boils to serious illness.
"The cut got infected and tested positive for staph."
"Hospitals take staph infections seriously because some strains resist antibiotics."
How to Use Staph
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe informal, everyday word for a staphylococcus infection.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "strep" (Streptococcus), a different bacteria that causes strep throat.
Easily confused with
strep
Common pairings
staph infection
test positive for staph
staph bacteria
Word Forms
staphs plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “staph”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cut got infected and tested positive for _____.
Etymology
A shortened, everyday form of "staphylococcus," itself from Greek staphylē ("bunch of grapes," describing how the bacteria cluster together under a microscope) + kokkos ("berry").