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
Giulia Enders is a physician and acclaimed author with a background in microbiology research and clinical experience in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. — Big Think, 31 July 2026 Continue into Lewiston for Clearwater Canyon Cellars, where winemaker Coco Umiker holds a doctorate in wine microbiology and her husband Karl holds a master’s in soil science. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 While the study has been a leap forward for rumen microbiology, there are a few caveats. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 27 July 2026 The babies looked so similar that one of the fathers in the group, who happened to be a microbiology professor, offered to swab their cheeks, take a sample and run a DNA test. — Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 26 July 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 5 Aug. 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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