diphtheroid

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdɪfθərɔɪd, ˈdɪp-/

noun

Microbiology
  • any bacterium of a genus that includes the diphtheria bacillus, especially one that does not cause disease. See corynebacterium.

adjective

[attributive] Medicine
  • similar to diphtheria: diphtheroid endocarditis