Use germ in everyday speech about illness, hygiene, and infection. In scientific writing, use the exact term when known, such as bacterium, virus, or pathogen.
Use germ in everyday speech about illness, hygiene, and infection. In scientific writing, use the exact term when known, such as bacterium, virus, or pathogen.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| A germ are on the table. | A germ is on the table. |
| These germ spread quickly. | These germs spread quickly. |
| The soap kills germ. | The soap kills germs. |
Use germ in the phrase the germ of when a small beginning later grows into something larger. It is common with idea, plan, doubt, and truth.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| the germ for an idea | the germ of an idea |
| This note was a germ of the project. | This note was the germ of the project. |
| I found germ of a theory. | I found the germ of a theory. |
Use germ in this sense in biology terms such as germ cell, germ layer, and germ line. It refers to development, not dirt or infection.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| A germ cell is a dirty cell. | A germ cell is a reproductive-line cell. |
| The embryo has three germs layers. | The embryo has three germ layers. |
| This mutation is in the germline cell. | This mutation is in the germ line. |
Use germ in food and grain contexts for the nutrient-rich embryo of a seed. Wheat germ is the most common everyday phrase.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I added wheat germs to the cereal. | I added wheat germ to the cereal. |
| The germ are inside the grain. | The germ is inside the grain. |
| Bran and germ is removed. | Bran and germ are removed. |
Use germ for everyday talk about illness and hygiene, and for figurative beginnings in the phrase the germ of. In technical biology, it appears in fixed terms such as germ cell, germ layer, and wheat germ.
A germ are should be a germ is, while germs are is plural. In the figurative sense, use the germ of an idea, not the germ for an idea.
Borrowed from French germe, from Latin germen, meaning a sprout, bud, or offspring. The older idea was growth from a seed or beginning. The disease sense developed later as science connected microorganisms with illness.
What does germ mean?
It can mean a disease-causing microbe, the beginning of an idea, or a living part that develops into an organism or part of one.
Are germs always bacteria?
No. In everyday English, germs can include bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents.
What does the germ of an idea mean?
It means the first small beginning of an idea that may later grow into something larger.
Is germ a technical word?
It can be. In biology, it appears in terms such as germ cell, germ layer, and germ line.
What is wheat germ?
Wheat germ is the embryo part of a wheat grain. It is often separated during milling and used as a food ingredient.
What is the plural of germ?
The plural is germs.
What is the difference between germ and microbe?
Microbe is more neutral and scientific. Germ is more common in everyday speech and often suggests disease.