Synonyms for

Bacteria

Verb / bæˈktɪri:ʌ / Another word for bacteria — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Bacteria are tiny, living creatures that can be found all around us.

Synonyms & similar words

bacterium microbes germs microorganisms pathogens prokaryotes bugs viruses bacilli spores microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes microbes

Synonyms by register

Formal

microorganism germ bacillus

Informal

bug critter

Common collocations

  • harmful bacteria
  • beneficial bacteria
  • bacterial infection
  • bacterial growth
  • bacterial culture
  • gram-negative bacteria
  • gram-positive bacteria

Word family

noun bacterium
adjective bacterial

Usage note

Bacteria is the plural form of bacterium. While sometimes used informally as a singular, it is technically incorrect. It refers to microscopic, single-celled organisms.

Example sentences

  1. Bacteria can be helpful to our bodies, but some can make us sick.
  2. You can find bacteria on your skin, in your mouth, and in your gut.
  3. Scientists study bacteria to learn more about how they work and how to fight diseases.
  4. Bacteria are very small, but they can multiply quickly and take over.
  5. Some bacteria live in extreme environments, like hot springs and the ocean floor.

Quotes

  • "Bacteria keeps us from heaven and puts us there." - Martin H. Fischer
  • "Bacteria is the moral equivalent of religion - invisible, omnipresent and potentially deadly." - Richard Panek
  • "To be a successful parasite, one must have a certain measure of intelligence, and bacteria are among the most intelligent of living things." - John Steinbeck

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