Word
microbial
Phoneticsmi·cro·bial
US/maɪˈkɹoʊbiəɫ/
UK/maɪkɹˈəʊbɪəl/
Definition
adj. relating to or caused by microbes, which are tiny living things like bacteria that you can only see with a microscope.
adj. relating to or caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Often used in scientific or medical contexts to describe life forms or processes at a microscopic scale.
Examples
“The scientist studied the microbial life in the pond water.”
“Doctors are concerned about microbial resistance to common antibiotics, which makes some infections much harder to treat.”
“The unique microbial ecosystem found within the deep-sea hydrothermal vents thrives on chemical energy rather than sunlight, challenging our traditional understanding of how life can survive in extreme environments.”
Examples
simple
“The scientist studied the microbial life in the pond water.”
contextual
“Doctors are concerned about microbial resistance to common antibiotics, which makes some infections much harder to treat.”
complex
“The unique microbial ecosystem found within the deep-sea hydrothermal vents thrives on chemical energy rather than sunlight, challenging our traditional understanding of how life can survive in extreme environments.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun. Frequently pairs with 'life', 'growth', or 'activity'.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“Scientists are searching some of Earth’s oldest rocks for tiny fossils that could reveal how simple microbial life made the extraordinary leap toward plants, animals, and other complex organisms.” “Researchers discovered that dozens of animal species possess enzymes capable of breaking down microbial bioplastics called PHAs, a talent once thought to belong only to microorganisms.” “The researchers concluded that the Cambrian animals were probably snacking on either the coprolites themselves or on the microbial communities growing on them.” Etymology
From microbe + -ial.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/microbial