listeria

American

[li-steer-ee-uh] / lɪˈstɪər i ə /

noun

Bacteriology.

any of several rod-shaped, aerobic, parasitic bacteria of the genus Listeria, pathogenic for humans and animals.

listeria British

/ lɪsˈtɪərɪə /

noun

any rodlike Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Listeria , esp L. monocytogenes , the cause of listeriosis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

listerial adjective

Etymology

Origin of listeria

1960–65; < New Latin, named after J. Lister; -ia

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.

Soft cheeses made with such unpasteurized milk can run an infection risk from listeria bacteria, a special danger for pregnant women and newborns.

From Los Angeles Times

Of course, safety issues abound in commercial dog food, too, where recalls for salmonella and listeria contamination are fairly common.

From The Wall Street Journal

Four people have been diagnosed with sepsis after eating at a luxury restaurant in Stockholm as part of a suspected listeria outbreak.

From BBC

Fresh & Ready Foods voluntarily recalled several premade sandwiches and snacks after federal regulators found a strain of listeria linked to a 2024 outbreak.

From Los Angeles Times

Member’s Mark Freeze-Dried Fruit Variety Packs from Sam’s Club have been recalled due to potential listeria contamination.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023