microbial

American  

[mahy-kroh-bee-uhl] / maɪˈkroʊ bi əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to microbes.

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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.

Example Sentences

But none of this can prove that life -- even tiny, microbial organisms -- once flourished on Mars.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

My mother’s relief was instant, but only years later would I learn that the antibiotics that saved my life had also gutted something else: a microbial ecosystem I’d been building since birth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"Our study's cross-disease analysis emphasised the potential of using microbial and metabolic biomarkers identified in one GID to predict another," added Dr. Acharjee.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

In this case, the textures appeared to preserve a dense layer of microbial life that existed more than 180 million years ago during the Early Jurassic.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 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