staphylococcus

American  

[staf-uh-luh-kok-uhs] / ˌstæf ə ləˈkɒk əs /

noun

Bacteriology.

staphylococci plural

1. any of several spherical bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus, occurring in pairs, tetrads, and irregular clusters, certain species of which, as S. aureus, can be pathogenic for humans.

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staphylococcus British  

/ ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkəs, ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkɪk, ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkəl, -ˈkɒksɪk /

noun

1. Often shortened to: staph.  any spherical Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus , typically occurring in clusters and including many pathogenic species, causing boils, infection in wounds, and septicaemia: family Micrococcaceae

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staphylococcus Scientific  

/ stăf′ə-lō-kŏk′əs /

staphylococci plural

1. Any of various bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus that are gram-positive cocci and are normally found on the skin and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. Pathogenic strains such as S. aureus commonly cause infections of the skin, bones, lungs and other organs. Some staphylococcal disease, such as food poisoning, is caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria.

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staphylococcus Cultural  

1. A category of bacteria that can cause boils, blood poisoning, and other serious infections.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• staphylococcal
  adjective
• staphylococcic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• staphylococci
  plural

Etymology

Origin of staphylococcus

From New Latin, dating back to 1885–90; see origin at staphylo-, coccus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

staphylococcus staphylococci

Weeks later, doctors discovered he had staph infection - which is caused by staphylococcus, a germ that lives in the nose of one in three people and can enter the body through a cut.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

The lack of pain in leishmaniasis lesions has puzzled scientists for years, especially when similar blisters caused by conditions like chicken pox, staphylococcus infections or the herpes virus are itchy, oozy and sore.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 30, 2023

The letter said records that the group obtained showed instances of pathogens, such as antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus and herpes B virus, that may have been transported without proper containment measures.

From Reuters ● Feb. 9, 2023

That physician failed to identify a dangerous staphylococcus bacterial infection on Ed's arm, which was later diagnosed by a dermatologist.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2021

This is the way the streptococcus and staphylococcus behave in an open wound, or sore; but they have two other methods of operating which are somewhat special and peculiar.

From Preventable Diseases by Hutchinson, Woods

The microbiologist famously remarked "that's funny" upon noticing an errant mould was killing staphylococci bacteria in a culture plate in 1928.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2025

The researchers were able to show that the newly discovered epilancin A37 acts very specifically against corynebacteria, which are among the main competitors of staphylococci within the skin microbiome.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2024

The scratch became infected by streptococci and staphylococci and spread to his eyes and scalp, according to “The Mold in Dr. Florey’s Coat.”

From Washington Post ● Jul. 11, 2020

Necrotizing fasciitis, otherwise known as flesh-eating disease, can be caused when a wound is infected with group-A streptococci or by staphylococci, common bacteria that live on people's skin and in their noses.

From Reuters ● Jul. 6, 2012

They are in all probability produced by staphylococci.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various