Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "coliform" [coliform]

  • Of or relating to the bacilli that commonly inhabit the intestines of humans and other vertebrates, especially the colon bacillus. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "coliform" in a sentence
  • "You’d also love how much fecal coliform is in every ice cube you’ve ever swallowed, lol."
  • "The government also accepts beef with more than double the limit set by many fast-food chains for total coliform, which is used to assess whether a beef producer is minimizing fecal contamination in its meat."
  • "A variety of bacteria -- including coliform, which is found in human waste -- can end up on your toothbrush if you keep it uncovered in your bathroom, says Eugene Antenucci, a dentist in Huntington, N.Y., and spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry."