microbial
Americanadjective
Explanation
Something that is microbial is related to or made up of tiny organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria or viruses. A microbial infection is caused by such life forms. Microbial is the adjective form of the noun microbe, an older word for microorganism, "a very, very tiny living thing." A microbial colony is a large number of these tiny life forms living together. Microbial biotechnology uses microbes to create products or carry out processes useful to humans. For example, microbes are used in the production of medicines and fermented foods, such as yogurt. Microbial technology is also used in agriculture, environmental cleanup, and to create some biofuels.
Vocabulary lists containing microbial
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This is a bit unusual, fitting for this outbreak perhaps,” said Kalmia Kniel, professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, by email.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Once conditions become less hostile, the next step would involve introducing microbial life.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
Liao specializes in microbial ecology and metagenomic analysis.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
Liao said additional studies are necessary to identify the molecular processes that drive the responses of complex biofilms containing multiple microbial species.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
To some the term microbial insecticide may conjure up pictures of bacterial warfare that would endanger other forms of life.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
