English Meaning & Definitions
A microorganism, especially one that causes disease; a bacterium or virus.
- “Wash your hands frequently with soap and water to get rid of harmful germs.”
- “Cold and flu germs can easily spread on doorknobs and shared surfaces.”
A portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one or part of one, such as a seed, bud, or embryo.
- “Wheat germ is rich in vitamins and minerals.”
- “The germ of the seed begins to swell as it absorbs water.”
The earliest stage of something that can develop; the origin or source.
- “That single conversation was the germ of a wonderful business idea.”
- “He found the germ of truth hidden within the complex rumor.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “germ”.
Late Middle English: from Old French germe, from Latin germen 'sprout, seed'. The biological sense of a microorganism causing disease developed in the late 19th century, extending from the earlier botanical sense of a seed or bud from which a new plant or organism develops.
Think of a tiny 'germ' starting like a 'g-erm' (gem) of an idea that grows into something much bigger.
Frequently Asked Questions About “germ”
1. What is the meaning of “germ” in English?
In English, germ (noun) is defined as: “A microorganism, especially one that causes disease; a bacterium or virus.”.
2. How do you use “germ” in a sentence?
“Wash your hands frequently with soap and water to get rid of harmful germs.”
3. What are English synonyms of “germ”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “germ”?
Late Middle English: from Old French germe, from Latin germen 'sprout, seed'. The biological sense of a microorganism causing disease developed in the late 19th century, extending from the earlier botanical sense of a seed or bud from which a new plant or organism develops.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.