Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

superbug

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.01 in modern English

Syllables: su-per-bug
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A strain of bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics (e.g., MDR, XDR).

Informal

noun

Any pathogen resistant to many, even all, of the biocides or other agents used to treat similar pathogens.

Informal

noun

An invasive insect, Bemisia tabaci, that is a major pest of vegetable crops, both directly and as a virus vector.

American usage

Example Sentences

"But now we’re seeing increasing numbers of superbugs that survive antibiotics. One of the best-known [is] MRSA, a kind of staph infection [that] kills about 18,000 Americans annually. That’s more than die of AIDS."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Italic *super Latin super Latin super-lbor. English super- English bug English superbug From super- + bug.

Usage

Informal
American usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Biology.

Inflected Forms

superbugs (plural)

Synonyms

silverleaf whitefly bemisia tabaci poinsettia strain

Questions

What does superbug mean?: A strain of bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics (e.g., MDR, XDR).
Where does superbug come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Italic *super Latin super Latin super-lbor. English super- English bug English superbug From super- + bug.

How to pronounce superbug

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