bacterial

American  

[bak-teer-ee-uhl] / bækˈtɪər i əl /

adjective

1. caused by or relating to bacteria.

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Explanation

If your illness is caused by bacteria, you can describe it as bacterial. For example, a lung infection that results from being exposed to bacteria is called bacterial pneumonia. Some infections and illnesses are caused by viruses, and they're called viral. Other kinds occur when your immune system is invaded by microorganisms called bacteria, and these are bacterial. You're most likely to hear the adjective bacterial when you're sick. The root word, bakterion, is Greek for "small staff or rod." Bacterial organisms were named this way in the 1830's because the first bacteria observed through a microscope were rod-shaped.

Example Sentences

According to the MMWR, investigators said the cooling tower had malfunctioned, leading to either very little or no injection of chemicals that would prevent bacterial growth.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Now, scientists are exploring whether it may be possible to influence bacterial behavior instead of simply trying to destroy bacteria outright.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2026

"The kidneys recovered normally, but it was the coincidence of a bacterial and a viral escalation at the same time that was a bit worrying for a couple of days for sure."

From BBC • May 7, 2026

By comparing bacterial samples from patients with and without cancer, the team identified a clear pattern.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

There could be remnants of civilizations destroyed by wars or by beasts or by immune systems that failed a sudden bacterial pop quiz.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman