microorganism

noun

mi·​cro·​or·​gan·​ism ˌmī-krō-ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce microorganism (audio)
: an organism (such as a bacterium or protozoan) of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size

Examples of microorganism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Earlier this month, Lesaffre, a French fermentation and microorganisms company, acquired DSM-Firmenich's yeast extract business. Kimberly Chin, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024 Yes, plants, many animals, algae, and microorganisms all have the potential to produce melatonin and these would be considered naturally occurring sources. Willow Jarosh, Ms, Rd, Health, 18 Oct. 2024 This build-up provides an ideal breeding ground for microorganisms, such as the aforementioned Malassezia yeast, which doesn’t only promote dandruff, but also by-products that can irritate the scalp and cause itching. Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2024 The organisms are naturally present in water and might graze on microorganisms from fecal contamination. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for microorganism 

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

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microorganism was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near microorganism

Cite this Entry

“Microorganism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microorganism. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

microorganism

noun
mi·​cro·​or·​gan·​ism ˌmī-krō-ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce microorganism (audio)
: an organism (as a bacterium) of microscopic or less than microscopic size

Medical Definition

microorganism

noun
mi·​cro·​or·​gan·​ism -ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce microorganism (audio)
: an organism of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size

More from Merriam-Webster on microorganism

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!