microbiology

1 of 2

noun

mi·​cro·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
: a branch of biology dealing with microscopic forms of life
microbiological
ˌmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
adjective
or less commonly microbiologic
ˌmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-jik How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
microbiologically
ˌmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
adverb
microbiologist
ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈä-lə-jist How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
noun

microbiological

2 of 2

adjective

mi·​cro·​biological ¦mīkrō+ How to pronounce microbiological (audio)
variants or less commonly microbiologic
"+ How to pronounce microbiological (audio)
: of or relating to microbiology
microbiologically
"+ How to pronounce microbiological (audio)
adverb

Examples of microbiology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Clark is a microbiology lecturer at Emory. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 May 2026 Palacios is a microbiology professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. — Lauren Dunn, NBC news, 7 May 2026 Roizman subsequently remained at Johns Hopkins for nine more years, as a microbiology instructor and assistant professor. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 By using air, water, and microbiology, the system turns food waste to environmentally safe liquid; then funneling refuse into Manhattan sewage, reducing heaps of landfill waste from production. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for microbiology

Word History

Etymology

Noun

International Scientific Vocabulary

Adjective

microbiological from microbiology + -ical; microbiologic International Scientific Vocabulary microbiology + -ic

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microbiology was in 1880

Rhymes for microbiology

See All Rhymes for microbiology

Browse Nearby Words

microbiological
microbiology
microbiome
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Microbiology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbiology. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

microbiology

noun
mi·​cro·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
: a branch of biology concerned especially with microscopic forms of life (as bacteria, protozoans, and viruses)
microbiological
ˈmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
adjective
also microbiologic
-ˈläj-ik How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
microbiologically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

microbiology

noun
mi·​cro·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌmī-krō-bī-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
plural microbiologies
: a branch of biology dealing especially with microorganisms (as bacteria and protozoans)
microbiological
ˈmī-krō-ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
adjective
also microbiologic
-ˈläj-ik How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
microbiological contamination
microbiological research
microbiologically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce microbiology (audio)
adverb
microbiologically safe water

More from Merriam-Webster on microbiology

Nglish: Translation of microbiology for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about microbiology

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