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A hint of the Greek word bios, meaning "life", can be seen in microbe. Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes, and most of them are essential to our life. Much research is now going into possible microbial sources of future energy; algae looks particularly promising, as do certain newly discovered or created microbes that can produce cellulose, to be turned into ethanol and other biofuels.
Examples of microbe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sharing microbes with a healthy partner can improve digestion, immunity, and overall wellness, but unhealthy microbes can also be transmitted. —
Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 20 Apr. 2026 Using nonsterile eye drops that harbor bacteria and fungus can cause eye infections, which can become severe because the immune system has a hard time accessing the eyeball and fighting the microbes. —C. Michael White, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026 Today, thanks to her work, 85% of Brazil’s soybeans are grown using these microbes rather than synthetic fertilizers. —Kyla Mandel, Time, 15 Apr. 2026 About 20 percent of their wood-digesting enzyme activity happens in the hindgut, often with help from symbiotic microbes that break down cellulose. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for microbe
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 20 Apr. 2026 Using nonsterile eye drops that harbor bacteria and fungus can cause eye infections, which can become severe because the immune system has a hard time accessing the eyeball and fighting the microbes. —C. Michael White, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026 Today, thanks to her work, 85% of Brazil’s soybeans are grown using these microbes rather than synthetic fertilizers. —Kyla Mandel, Time, 15 Apr. 2026 About 20 percent of their wood-digesting enzyme activity happens in the hindgut, often with help from symbiotic microbes that break down cellulose. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for microbe
Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
microbe
noun
mi·crobe ˈmī-ˌkrōb 
Medical Definition
microbe
noun
mi·crobe ˈmī-ˌkrōb
: microorganism, germ
—used especially of pathogenic bacteria
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