enterobacteria: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Scientific/Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “enterobacteria” mean?
A large family of rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria that inhabit the intestines of humans and animals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large family of rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria that inhabit the intestines of humans and animals.
Any of numerous bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, which includes both harmless commensals and significant pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli). They are commonly studied in medical microbiology, water quality testing, and food safety.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical technical, clinical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to specialised fields.
Grammar
How to Use “enterobacteria” in a Sentence
Subject of 'include' (Enterobacteria include E. coli and Salmonella.)Object of 'identify'/'isolate' (The lab isolated several enterobacteria.)Modified by 'Gram-negative' (Gram-negative enterobacteria are a concern.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or food safety industries in R&D or quality control reports.
Academic
Frequent in microbiology, medical, veterinary, and public health research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in clinical lab reports, microbiological assays, infection control protocols, and epidemiological studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “enterobacteria”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “enterobacteria”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “enterobacteria”
- Using it as a singular countable noun (e.g., 'an enterobacteria' – incorrect; should be 'an enterobacterium' or 'a species of enterobacteria').
- Confusing it with all 'gut bacteria', which includes many Gram-positive organisms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily used as a plural noun. The singular form is 'enterobacterium', though it is rarely used.
No. Many are harmless commensals in the gut. Some, like specific strains of E. coli or Salmonella, are pathogenic and cause disease.
'Enterobacteriaceae' is the formal, scientific name of the bacterial family. 'Enterobacteria' is a common, informal term used to refer to members of that family.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most well-known and studied enterobacteria.
A large family of rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria that inhabit the intestines of humans and animals.
Enterobacteria is usually scientific/technical/medical in register.
Enterobacteria: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛntərəʊbækˈtɪərɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛntəroʊbækˈtɪriə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENTER (intestines) + O + BACTERIA = bacteria found in the intestines.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualised as a 'family' (taxonomic) or 'fauna' (intestinal flora).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'enterobacteria' MOST appropriately used?