microbiology

American  

[mahy-kroh-bahy-ol-uh-jee] / ˌmaɪ kroʊ baɪˈɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the branch of biology dealing with the structure, function, uses, and modes of existence of microscopic organisms.

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microbiology British  

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌmaɪkrəʊbaɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of biology involving the study of microorganisms

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microbiology Scientific  

/ mī′krō-bī-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of microorganisms.

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Other Word Forms

• microbiologist
  noun
• microbiologic
  adjective
• microbiological
  adjective
• microbiologically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of microbiology

First recorded in 1885–90; micro- + biology

Compare meaning

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

• microbiology vs. biology

Explanation

Microbiology is the study of very small things, both living and nonliving. If you're fascinated by looking at tiny organisms through a microscope, you should take a class in microbiology. If your job involves microbiology, you're probably a microbiologist, a scientist who studies microorganisms and other microscopic things. Notice the prefix micro- in all of those words? It means "extremely small," from the Greek root mikros, "small or slight." Add this to biology, "the science of living things," and you get microbiology. This branch of science involves looking closely at fungi, viruses, parasites, bacteria, and other microbes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microbiology

In the microbiology lab, she prepares the stacks of samples piling up in the queue for examination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

But plaque can shed bacteria or bacterial products into the bloodstream, says Dr. George Hajishengallis, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s dental school specializing in microbiology and immunology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

“These viruses are also what are called ‘low incidence, high consequences,’” said Robert Cross, a hantavirus researcher and assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026

"This is a huge public health crisis in the making," said Covarrubias, who is also an assistant professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 16, 2026

The organic chemistry results, like the imaging and microbiology results, are all consistent with no life in the fine particles of Chryse and Utopia in the late 1970’s.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan