ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bacterial

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //bækˈtɪɹiəɫ// UK //bæktˈiəɹɪəl// bac·te·ri·al

adj. caused by or relating to bacteria. You use this to describe illnesses or things that involve tiny living organisms that can sometimes make you sick.

adj. relating to, caused by, or consisting of bacteria. Often used to distinguish specific types of infection from those caused by viruses or fungi.


SIMPLE

The doctor gave me medicine for a bacterial infection.

CONTEXTUAL

Washing your hands regularly is a simple way to prevent the spread of bacterial diseases in public spaces.

COMPLEX

The researcher noted that the bacterial colony exhibited significant resistance to standard antibiotics after only three generations of exposure to the compound.

Origin

From bacteria + -al.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun like 'infection', 'growth', or 'disease'.

Pitfall

a bacteria infectiona bacterial infectionLearners often use the noun 'bacteria' as a modifier instead of the correct adjective form 'bacterial'.

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