coliform bacteria: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequency, specialisedTechnical/Scientific, Academic, Regulatory
Quick answer
What does “coliform bacteria” mean?
A group of rod-shaped bacteria found in the environment and in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, commonly used as an indicator of water and food contamination.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of rod-shaped bacteria found in the environment and in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, commonly used as an indicator of water and food contamination.
In a broader public health context, the term refers to a category of bacteria whose presence suggests potential fecal contamination and the possible existence of more dangerous pathogenic organisms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Usage and regulatory thresholds may differ slightly between public health bodies (e.g., UK Health Security Agency vs. US Environmental Protection Agency).
Connotations
Identical negative connotations related to contamination and health risk.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to technical domains.
Grammar
How to Use “coliform bacteria” in a Sentence
The water was tested for coliform bacteria.A high coliform bacteria count indicates contamination.Coliform bacteria are used as an indicator organism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coliform bacteria” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sample coliform-tested positive.
- The water was coliform-contaminated.
American English
- The lab will coliform-test the well water.
- The system failed to coliform-reduce effectively.
adjective
British English
- The coliform count exceeded regulatory limits.
- A coliform analysis was conducted.
American English
- The coliform levels were unsafe.
- They issued a coliform advisory for the lake.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for food safety, water treatment, and public health compliance industries.
Academic
Common in microbiology, environmental science, and public health research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Rare. May appear in news reports about beach closures or food recalls.
Technical
The primary register. Used in lab reports, regulatory standards, and sanitation engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coliform bacteria”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coliform bacteria”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coliform bacteria”
- Using 'coliform' as a countable noun singular (e.g., 'a coliform'). It is primarily an adjective ('coliform bacteria') or a plural noun for the group.
- Confusing 'coliform count' with a count of all bacteria; it is specific to this indicator group.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Many coliform bacteria are not pathogenic themselves. Their significance lies in their role as indicators that other, more dangerous pathogens *might* be present.
'Total coliforms' is a broader group found in soil, water, and vegetation. 'Fecal coliforms' are a subset that primarily originate in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, providing a more specific indicator of recent fecal contamination.
They are routinely tested in drinking water, swimming pools, beaches, rivers, and in the food industry (e.g., dairy, produce) to assess sanitary quality.
Yes, standard water treatment methods like chlorination, filtration, and UV light are effective at killing or removing coliform bacteria.
A group of rod-shaped bacteria found in the environment and in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, commonly used as an indicator of water and food contamination.
Coliform bacteria is usually technical/scientific, academic, regulatory in register.
Coliform bacteria: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒl.ɪ.fɔːm bækˈtɪə.ri.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.lɪ.fɔːrm bækˈtɪr.i.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is strictly technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COLI-form = found in the COLon + shaped like a rod (bacillus FORM). They are used to FORM an opinion about water safety.
Conceptual Metaphor
INDICATOR/ALARM BELL: Coliform bacteria are metaphorically an alarm bell or a canary in a coal mine for fecal contamination.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary practical use of testing for coliform bacteria?