food poisoning: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; common in everyday, medical, and journalistic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “food poisoning” mean?
An illness caused by eating contaminated food, typically resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An illness caused by eating contaminated food, typically resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
The term can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation where something seemingly beneficial or pleasant turns out to have damaging or unpleasant consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. 'Food poisoning' is the standard term in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral; primarily a medical/health concern.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “food poisoning” in a Sentence
[Subject] got/has food poisoning from [source].[Source] gave [Indirect Object] food poisoning.There was an outbreak of food poisoning at [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “food poisoning” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Several people were taken to hospital with suspected food poisoning after the wedding reception.
- The local council is investigating the source of the food poisoning.
American English
- The restaurant was temporarily shut down due to a food poisoning incident.
- He missed three days of work because of a bad case of food poisoning.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in hospitality/restaurant liability contexts: 'The lawsuit was filed after a customer contracted food poisoning.'
Academic
Used in public health and microbiology: 'The study tracked the epidemiology of the food poisoning outbreak.'
Everyday
Common explanation for absence: 'I can't come to work today; I think I have food poisoning.'
Technical
Specific in medicine to types: 'Staphylococcal food poisoning has a rapid onset.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “food poisoning”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “food poisoning”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “food poisoning”
- Using a plural: 'I have food poisonings' (incorrect).
- Confusing with 'allergy' or 'intolerance'.
- Misspelling as 'food posioning'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Food poisoning is caused by toxins or pathogens in food, with rapid onset. A stomach virus (viral gastroenteritis) is contagious from person to person.
No. 'Food poisoning' is a noun. You can say 'The food poisoned him' but not 'He was food poisoned' in standard English.
It varies by cause, from 30 minutes (e.g., Staphylococcus toxin) to several days (e.g., Salmonella), but often within a few hours.
They are often used interchangeably, but 'foodborne illness' is a broader, more formal term used in public health, while 'food poisoning' is the common everyday term.
An illness caused by eating contaminated food, typically resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Food poisoning is usually neutral; common in everyday, medical, and journalistic contexts. in register.
Food poisoning: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfuːd ˌpɔɪz(ə)nɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfuːd ˌpɔɪz(ə)nɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of POISON in your FOOD making you ill.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS A (POTENTIAL) POISON / CONTAMINATION IS A POISON.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most precise term for an illness caused by consuming contaminated food?