Health / B2

bak-TEERR-ee-uh/bækˈtɪəriə/

Bacteria are microbes; some cause disease. The word is plural; singular is bacterium. Virus is a different kind of germ (antibiotics do not treat viruses). Germ is everyday. Outbreaks linked to bacteria in a cooler. Do not write “a bacteria”.

Meaning

Very small living things, some of which cause disease (plural; singular bacterium).

Examples

• “The outbreak was linked to bacteria in the canteen water cooler.”
• “A bacterium (singular) was identified, which is why the lab report looks odd.”

Good to know

Plural: bacteria; singular: bacterium. Related: virus (different). Everyday: germs. Antibiotics vs viruses. Not “a bacteria”. Food-safety news.

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