germ

American  

[jurm] / dʒɜrm /

noun

• germs
  plural

1. a microorganism, especially when disease-producing; microbe.

2. a bud, offshoot, or seed.

3. the rudiment of a living organism; an embryo in its early stages.

4. the initial stage in development or evolution, as a germ cell or ancestral form.

   Synonyms:

   seed, rudiment, bud, root, spark

5. something that serves as a source or initial stage for subsequent development.

   the germ of an idea.

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adjective

1. Pathology. of, relating to, or caused by disease-producing germs.

germ British  

/ dʒɜːm /

noun

1. a microorganism, esp one that produces disease in animals or plants

2. (often plural) the rudimentary or initial form of something

   the germs of revolution

3. a simple structure, such as a fertilized egg, that is capable of developing into a complete organism

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germ Scientific  

/ jûrm /

1. A microscopic organism or agent, especially one that is pathogenic, such as a bacterium or virus.

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Usage

The terms germ and microbe have been used to refer to invisible agents of disease since the nineteenth century, when scientists introduced the germ theory of disease, the idea that infections and contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms. Microbe, a shortening and alteration of microorganism, comes from the Greek prefix mikro–, “small,” and the word bios, “life.” Scientists no longer use the terms germ and microbe very much. Today they can usually identify the specific agents of disease, such as individual species of bacteria or viruses. To refer generally to agents of disease, they use the term pathogen, from the Greek pathos, “suffering,” and the suffix –gen, “producer.” They use microorganism to refer to any unicellular organism, whether disease-causing or not.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• germless
  adjective
• germlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• germs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of germ

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French germe < Latin germen shoot, sprout, by dissimilation from *genmen, equivalent to gen- ( see genitor, genus) + -men resultative noun suffix)

Explanation

A germ is a tiny life form that spreads disease. Germs are also small things that grow into larger things — whether animals, plants, or ideas. Germ is not a technical term, but you've probably heard it used in reference to tiny organisms (such as bacteria) that cause disease. A germ is also any small structure, such as a fertilized egg, that grows into something larger. A seed that grows into a plant is a germ. In some cases, you can talk about ideas as germs. The inspiration for a book or movie can be described as the germ of the project. Germs are small, but they start big things.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

germ germs

Spermidine is produced naturally by human cells and is also present in foods including wheat germ, mushrooms, parmesan, and cheddar.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026

According to Public Health Wales, Staph infection is a bacterial infection caused by staphylococcus - a germ that lives in the nose of one in three people.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

"Between 10-24 per cent of the population unknowingly carry this germ at the back of their throats usually without any harm," said Lee.

From Barron's ● Mar. 19, 2026

The author appreciates what a terrific advance modern germ theory represents, but she also recognizes its tendency to generate absurd excesses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

“She wouldn’t know a germ if one gave her a black eye. Pay no attention.”

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden

During the height of the Covid-19 era, cruises seemed dead in the water: Nations were closing their doors and ships have long been seen as potential petri dishes given how quickly germs can spread onboard.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

"Rebecca often feels stressed and anxious about picking up germs when she has to sit and wait in the A&E department," said Delia, 69, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire.

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

He studied the prevention and cure of disease and how the body functioned, including respiration and blood circulation, and he had a nascent understanding of germs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

There are several ways germs can enter your body in a public restroom:

From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026

A person with active TB harbors hundreds of millions of bacilli in his lungs, enough to ensure that a small number will be mutant germs that aren’t stopped by anti-TB drugs.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• antibody
• bacterium
• bug
• disease
• microbe
• microorganism
• pathogen
• virus