microbiota

American  

[mahy-kroh-bahy-oh-tuh] / ˌmaɪ kroʊ baɪˈoʊ tə /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. the microorganisms, both flora and fauna, that inhabit a particular region, when considered collectively.

2. the microorganisms that live in the human body, symbiotically or pathologically.

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Etymology

Origin of microbiota

First recorded in 1925–30; micro- ( def. ) + biota ( def. )

Compare meaning

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

• microbiota vs. microbiome

Example Sentences

Participants who regularly used virgin olive oil experienced improvements in cognitive function and had a more diverse gut microbiota, which is widely considered a sign of better intestinal and metabolic health.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

"We successfully developed the first comprehensive catalogue of human gut microbiota subspecies, together with a precise and efficient method to use it both for research and in the clinic."

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

However, scientists believe that conditions inside the intestine, including the gut microbiota and the chemical messenger serotonin, play an important role.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

They suggest this work could reshape how future medicines are designed, shifting the focus toward compounds that guide the microbiota to produce health-supporting molecules for their hosts.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2026

The study, titled "Primate gut microbiota induce evolutionarily salient changes in mouse neurodevelopment," was published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026