listeriosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “listeriosis” mean?
A serious infectious disease caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A serious infectious disease caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
The condition, infection, or clinical syndrome resulting from infection with bacteria of the genus Listeria, particularly Listeria monocytogenes. It primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences; the term is standardized in medical English. Spelling differences may appear in related compounds (e.g., 'haematogenous' vs. 'hematogenous' in associated medical texts).
Connotations
Identical connotations of a serious, reportable foodborne illness.
Frequency
Equal, very low frequency in both dialects, limited to specialist fields.
Grammar
How to Use “listeriosis” in a Sentence
[Patient] contracted listeriosis from [source].An outbreak of listeriosis was linked to [food product].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “listeriosis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The supplier was implicated after several people were hospitalised, having listeria-infected.
American English
- The product was recalled after it was found to have the potential to listeria-contaminate.
adverb
British English
- The product was withdrawn listeriosis-cautiously, pending further tests.
American English
- The plant was shut down listeriosis-preemptively after the test results.
adjective
British English
- The listeriosis scare led to a nationwide cheese recall.
American English
- Health officials issued a listeriosis-related warning for packaged salads.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in food manufacturing, quality control, and recall notices.
Academic
Used in medical, microbiological, and public health research papers.
Everyday
Rare; might appear in news reports about food recalls.
Technical
Standard term in clinical medicine, epidemiology, and food safety.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “listeriosis”
- Misspelling: 'listeriosys', 'listeriasis'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., 'LIST-er-i-osis').
- Confusing it with the more common 'salmonellosis'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready-to-eat foods like deli meats, hot dogs, unpasteurised dairy products, soft cheeses, and pre-prepared salads.
Pregnant women, newborns, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems (e.g., from cancer treatment or transplants).
Listeria bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures, and the infection can invade beyond the gut, causing severe bloodstream or central nervous system infections.
Yes, it is treated with antibiotics, especially in high-risk individuals. Early treatment is important.
A serious infectious disease caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeriosis is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Listeriosis: in British English it is pronounced /lɪˌstɪə.riˈəʊ.sɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɪˌstɪr.iˈoʊ.sɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LISTeriosis – you make a LIST of foods to avoid (like soft cheese) to prevent it.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADER (The bacteria invade the body).
Practice
Quiz
Listeriosis is primarily a...