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prophage

American

[proh-feyj] / ˈproʊˌfeɪdʒ /

noun

Microbiology.

a stable, inherited form of bacteriophage in which the genetic material of the virus is integrated into, replicated, and expressed with the genetic material of the bacterial host.

prophage British

/ ˈprəʊfeɪdʒ /

noun

a virus that exists in a bacterial cell and undergoes division with its host without destroying it Compare bacteriophage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prophage

1950–55; shortening of French probactériophage; see pro- ¹, bacteriophage

Compare meaning

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

prophage vs. provirus

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 change creates two "chimeric proteins" composed of DNA from the prophage itself.

From Science Daily • Nov. 3, 2025

Wolbachia's prophage WO genes code for proteins that interfere with normal development of sperm cells.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2024

When the phage DNA is incorporated into the host cell genome, it is called a prophage.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The prophage can exit the bacterial chromosome and enter a lytic cycle.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

The prophage may replicate with the bacterium for many generations.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023