botulism

American  

[boch-uh-liz-uhm] / ˈbɒtʃ əˌlɪz əm /

noun

Pathology.

1. a sometimes fatal disease of the nervous system acquired from spoiled foods in which botulin is present, especially improperly canned or marinated foods.

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botulism British  

/ ˈbɒtjʊˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. severe poisoning from ingestion of botulin, which affects the central nervous system producing difficulty in swallowing, visual disturbances, and respiratory paralysis: often fatal

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botulism Scientific  

/ bŏch′ə-lĭz′əm /

1. A severe, sometimes fatal food poisoning caused by eating food infected with the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces botulinum toxin. The bacterium grows in food that has been improperly preserved.

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botulism Cultural  

1. A severe form of food poisoning, often fatal if not treated quickly. Botulism is caused by a kind of bacterium that produces a toxin, and it is sometimes present in improperly canned or preserved foods.

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Etymology

Origin of botulism

1875–80; < German Botulismus, equivalent to Latin botul(us ) sausage (a source of botulin toxin) + -ismus -ism

Example Sentences

All three infants, who ranged in age from two months to five months, were hospitalized and treated with a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat infant botulism, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026

Nara Organics recalled its whole milk baby formula after a California child and two others were sickened by potentially fatal infant botulism, federal officials said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026

In February, the CDC confirmed 28 infant botulism and 20 cases of probable infant botulism linked to the formula.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

In November 2025, all ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products were recalled for possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that causes botulism, an extremely deadly illness.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

A few primitive forms, such as the botulism and tetanus bacilli, manage to survive even today only in oxygen-free environments.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• salmonella