microbiome

American  

[mahy-kroh-bahy-ohm] / ˌmaɪ kroʊˈbaɪ oʊm /

noun

Microbiology.

1. the totality of microorganisms and their collective genetic material present in or on the human body or in another environment.

   The wide diversity of species that make up the microbiome is hard to fathom.

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Usage

What is a microbiome? A microbiome is a full collection of microorganisms and the genetic material of a living being or a specific environment. The term microbiome is most often used in reference to the human microbiome, and people will often discuss the microbiome without specifying that they mean the human variety. However, every living being has a microbiome. The microbiome includes all of the cells that make up a living body and all of the microorganisms that exist within it that promote healthy life processes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. For example, there are hundreds of millions of bacteria and other organisms within the body that promote digestion, protect against pathogens and disease, and extract toxins from the body. All negative or outside organisms that enter the body also effectively become a part of the microbiome and will be considered when evaluating someone’s condition or health. Some of the first bacteria identified as living inside the bodies of healthy humans were E. coli, which aids digestion in the large intestine, and Veillonella parvula, which converts some harmful acids in the mouth into less harmful ones. In 2007, the scientific community launched a project called the Human Microbiome Project in order to learn more about these microorganisms. Example: The human microbiome includes so much more than bacteria and viruses.

Etymology

Origin of microbiome

Coined 2001 by Joshua Lederberg, American molecular biologist; micro(be) + biome

Compare meaning

How does microbiome compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• microbiota vs. microbiome

Explanation

A microbiome is a tiny community made up entirely of microorganisms. This includes things like bacteria and fungi, and you can't escape them — they're everywhere, including inside your body right now! A biome is a specific environment with a specific climate, which contains particular kinds of animal and plant life. You can imagine a microbiome as a microscopic version of the same thing. It's essentially a tiny community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses all living together within a particular environment, such as the human gut.

Example Sentences

Another study found that higher citrus intake was associated with increased levels of beneficial gut bacteria and a lower risk of depression, suggesting a link between diet, the microbiome and mental health.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

The researchers also observed that sleep apnea-like conditions had a smaller impact on both the gut microbiome and the metabolome when FXR was absent.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

Nikolay Oskolkov, a researcher at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis not involved in the study, told AFP it was interesting that "the Iceman's microbiome is not 'frozen'".

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

It has also been found in 3,000-year-old faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria -- which serves as one of the only other available views into the ancient human microbiome.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

If I’d been the author, I would’ve stopped thinking about my microbiome.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green