plural germs
1
a
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts
b
: the embryo with the scutellum of a cereal grain that is usually separated from the starchy endosperm during milling
3
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
Examples of germ in a Sentence
the germ that causes tuberculosis
the germ of an idea
the germ layers of an embryo
Recent Examples on the Web
Once the meat is cooked, keep it at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or above until serving to prevent germs from developing.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN, 4 July 2024
Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
—Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Say goodbye to germs and hello to a sealed, odor-free zone.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2024
Other more common germs to worry about include the bacteria that cause strep throat (Streptococcus), tooth decay (Streptococcus mutans), and gum disease (Porphyromonas gingivalis).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for germ 
Katia Hetter, CNN, 4 July 2024
Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
—Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Say goodbye to germs and hello to a sealed, odor-free zone.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2024
Other more common germs to worry about include the bacteria that cause strep throat (Streptococcus), tooth decay (Streptococcus mutans), and gum disease (Porphyromonas gingivalis).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for germ
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'germ.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near germ
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
germ
noun1
a
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into a whole individual or one of its parts
b
: the embryo in the seed of a cereal (as corn or wheat) together with its cotyledon that is usually separated from the starchy part of the seed during milling
2
: something that serves as an origin
the germ of an idea
3
: a microscopic living thing
especially
: one that causes disease
Medical Definition
germ
noun1
: a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts
2
: a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (as a bacterium or virus)
broadly
: microorganism
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share