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Definition

noun, singular: eubacterium

Literally means true bacteria, which includes all bacteria except for archaebacteria.

Supplement

These bacteria form the domain Bacteria, previously called domain Eubacteria. It is one of the three domain systems, the other two being domain Archaeabacteria (now Archaea) and domain Eukarya (the eukaryotes)

Eubacteria are prokaryotic organisms, as characterized by the lack of a membrane-enclosed nucleus, predominantly unicellular, with DNA in single circular chromosome, and have peptidoglycan on cell wall when present. They include most of the familiar bacteria of medical and economic importance such as E. coli, Staphylococcus , Salmonella, Lactobacillus, Nitrosomonas, Streptomyces, etc.

Word origin: 1935–40; eu: in scientific coinages, means “true, genuine” + bacteria.

Synonym: (true) bacteria.
Compare: Archaebacteria.
See also: Monera, prokaryote.