How to Use bacteria in a Sentence

bacteria

noun
Definition of bacterianext
  • The tooth decay that leads to cavities occurs when the bacteria in your mouth form a sticky plaque on your teeth.
    — Tammy Davenport, Verywell Health, 28 May 2024
  • Fecal bacteria levels in beaches and rivers might peak in the 48 hours after heavy rain.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 26 July 2024
  • The buildup of dirt, soap scum, and debris in the machine causes mildew, bacteria, and mold to form, which imparts an offensive odor during washing.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2024
  • If an infected louse bites a human, these secretions could also directly transmit the bacteria.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
  • Urinate regularly: Holding urine in the bladder for long periods can increase the risk of bacteria growth.
    — Joni Sweet, Health, 1 June 2024
  • As mentioned, probiotic supplements may help to populate the gut with healthy bacteria, while prebiotics are the fiber that helps to feed those good bacteria.
    — Suzie Finkel Ms, Rd, Cdn, Health, 26 May 2024
  • Some research has found that the metabolites produced by a mother’s gut bacteria can affect the neurodevelopment of the fetus.
    — Markham Heid, TIME, 26 July 2024
  • In extreme cases, antibiotics kill so much of the good bacteria that keeps the gut balanced that the bad, fermenting-capable fungi and microorganisms flourish.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 June 2024
  • The landmark system removed 95% of the bacteria from the city’s sewage and 90% of the solids.
    — Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
  • Sequencing done in the UK shows there has been no abrupt change in the bacteria.
    — Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2022
  • These are a group of viruses that are known to infect bacteria.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023
  • Stains and bacteria have met their match in Shark's now-$70 Steam Pocket Mop.
    — Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2023
  • The main types present in dairy are: Lactic acid bacteria: These friendly microbes are the workhorses of the dairy world.
    — Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Feb. 2024
  • The bacteria spores are harmful to many types of caterpillars.
    — Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 4 Feb. 2023
  • At first, doctors didn’t believe that bacteria could live in the stomach at all.
    — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2023
  • And yet, all the while, humble bacteria in the dirt are fixing nitrogen all day long.
    — Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024
  • The extreme rain events and very warm periods this year have favored the bacteria.
    — Amanda Gokee, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2023
  • And there’s been research showing those bacteria can impact our health outside of the mouth.
    — Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2023
  • Many bacteria and viruses need to live around or inside your cells to survive.
    — Zoie Magri, The Conversation, 4 Oct. 2023
  • For more than 3 billion years, bacteria have been evolving and have learned to change themselves to survive.
    — Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023
  • Look for a pair with anti-odor technology, which helps stave off the bacteria that create those funky smells in the first place.
    — Mike Richard, Men's Health, 20 Dec. 2022
  • Rinse away any debris, and then use boiling or hot water with a bit of dish washing soap to soak away any set stains and bacteria.
    — Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2023
  • In future studies, the team plans to study other remains for evidence of the types of bacteria present in the body and what effect that may have had on the dental health of the Vikings.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Dec. 2023
  • Within that clade, most of these species are from the class Clostridia in the phylum Firmicutes, a phylum of bacteria important to gut health.
    — Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2024
  • The purpose of the skin is to act as a barrier against irritants and chemicals, bacteria, and fungi to get in.
    — Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
  • Researchers found that 60% of those who decided to wash their chicken had bacteria in their sinks.
    — Julia Landwehr, Health, 19 Dec. 2023
  • Septicemic plague occurs when the bacteria gets into the bloodstream.
    — Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 12 Feb. 2024
  • In San Diego, three beaches have closed and two have warnings due to unsafe bacteria levels.
    — Elysee Barakett, NBC News, 3 July 2024
  • In both cases, a bacteria or virus infects the lungs, resulting in fever, sore throat, a persistent cough, headaches and chest pain.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Dec. 2022
  • In fact, a microbiome of bacteria and yeast naturally live on the skin.
    — Claire McCarthy, M.d., Parents, 13 Nov. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bacteria.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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