Legionella

[ lee-juh-nel-uh ]

noun

1. a genus of rod- or coccus-shaped aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, certain species of which, as L. pneumophila, produce legionnaires' disease.

legionella

/ ˌliːdʒəˈnɛlə /

noun

1. any Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Legionella, including L. pneumophila, which causes legionnaire's disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of Legionella¹

< New Latin (1979), after legionnaires' disease; -ella

Word History and Origins

Origin of Legionella¹

C20: New Latin, diminutive of legion , as in legionnaire's disease