vibrio

American  

[vib-ree-oh] / ˈvɪb riˌoʊ /

noun

Bacteriology.

plural

vibrios

1. any of several comma- or S -shaped bacteria of the genus Vibrio, certain species of which are pathogenic for humans and other animals.

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vibrio British  

/ ˈvɪbrɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. any curved or spiral rodlike Gram-negative bacterium of the genus Vibrio , including V. cholerae , which causes cholera: family Spirillaceae

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Other Word Forms

• vibrioid adjective

Etymology

Origin of vibrio

< New Latin (1854), equivalent to Latin vibr ( āre ) to shake + -iō noun suffix

Example Sentences

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, often from faeces.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

According to Cheryl McCloud at the Herald Tribune, "at least eight people in Florida have died so far this year from the so-called 'flesh eating' bacteria" vibrio vulnificus.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2023

“Flood waters and standing waters following a hurricane pose many risks, including infectious diseases such as vibrio vulnificus,” the county health department said in a news release Oct.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2022

Eating un- or undercooked shellfish that harbor vibrio can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2022

On May twenty-eighth, a rabbit was inoculated under the skin of the abdomen with five drops of the preceding culture of the pyogenic vibrio.

From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various