diphtheroid

[dif-thuh-roid, dip-]

adjective

Pathology.

1. resembling diphtheria, especially in the formation of a false membrane in the throat.

noun

1. any bacterium, especially of the genus Corynebacterium, that resembles the diphtheria bacillus but does not produce diphtheria toxin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of diphtheroid¹

First recorded in 1860–65; diphther(ia) + -oid

Example Sentences

Note the presence or absence of altered and unaltered vegetable fibres; pus cells, blood discs; cocci in groups or chains, diphtheroid bacilli, Gram negative bacilli or cocci, spores and acid fast bacteria.

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