salmonella

noun

sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈne-lə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
plural salmonellae ˌsal-mə-ˈne-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
-ˌlī
 or salmonellas or salmonella
: any of a genus (Salmonella) of usually motile enterobacteria that are pathogenic for humans and other warm-blooded animals and cause food poisoning, gastrointestinal inflammation, typhoid fever, or septicemia

Examples of salmonella 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.
Elsewhere in the barn, there’s a pair of isolated rooms for donkeys with highly infectious diseases like salmonella or strangles. — Brayden Garcia october 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026 People who have been infected with salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, usually six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, health officials said. — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026 Salmonella symptoms Anyone experiencing symptoms of salmonella is urged to contact their health care provider. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Symptoms of salmonella typically begin between six hours and six days after consuming the bacteria. — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for salmonella

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Daniel E. Salmon †1914 American veterinarian

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salmonella was in 1913

Rhymes for salmonella

See All Rhymes for salmonella

Browse Nearby Words

salmon disease
salmonella
salmonellosis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salmonella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salmonella. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

salmonella

noun
sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈnel-ə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
plural salmonellae -ˈnel-ē How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
-ˌī
 or salmonellas or salmonella
: any of a genus of rod-shaped bacteria that cause various illnesses (as food poisoning) in human beings and other warm-blooded animals

Medical Definition

salmonella

noun
sal·​mo·​nel·​la ˌsal-mə-ˈnel-ə How to pronounce salmonella (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of aerobic gram-negative rod-shaped nonspore-forming usually motile bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that grow well on artificial media and form acid and gas on many carbohydrates but not on lactose, sucrose, or salicin, that are pathogenic for humans and other warm-blooded animals, and that cause food poisoning, acute gastrointestinal inflammation, typhoid fever, and septicemia
2
plural salmonellae -ˈnel-ē How to pronounce salmonella (audio) or salmonellas or salmonella : any bacterium of the genus Salmonella

More from Merriam-Webster on salmonella

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about salmonella

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