food poisoning

American  

noun

1. an acute gastrointestinal condition characterized by such symptoms as headache, fever, chills, abdominal and muscular pain, nausea, diarrhea, and prostration, caused by foods that are naturally toxic, as poisonous mushrooms, by vegetable foods that are chemically contaminated, as by insecticides, or by bacteria or their toxins, especially of the genus Salmonella.

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food poisoning British  

noun

1. an acute illness typically characterized by gastrointestinal inflammation, vomiting, and diarrhoea, caused by food that is either naturally poisonous or contaminated by pathogenic bacteria (esp Salmonella )

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food poisoning Scientific  

1. An acute gastrointestinal disorder characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, usually of the genus Salmonella or the genus Staphylococcus, which produces a toxin.

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food poisoning Cultural  

1. Illnesses that arise from eating food contaminated with pathogenic or toxic (see toxins) substances. Characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, food poisoning is often caused by bacteria, such as salmonella or staphylococci. (See botulism.)

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Etymology

Origin of food poisoning

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

food poisoning

Kaweenuntawong said not a single case of food poisoning has ever been linked to the restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Both Panelli and his wife, Julie, came down with food poisoning.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

It rose for every category except infant formula, where Nestlé recalled some products in January due to concerns they contained a toxin that can cause food poisoning.

From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026

I wasn't feeling great anyway because I think I'd got food poisoning.

From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026

“This is so much better than that thing drenched in butter that I could hardly finish at the restaurant. And you know we can’t get food poisoning because the frying kills the germs,” she added.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• botulism
• salmonella