Acidophilus

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌæsɪˈdɑfɪləs/

Definitions

1. A genus of bacteria recognized for promoting digestive health through fermentation and found in yogurt and supplements
2. A probiotic microorganism that supports gastrointestinal function and is commonly present in fermented dairy products
3. A type of beneficial bacterium that aids digestion and is often utilized in dietary supplements and fermented foods

Etymology: The name is a compound built from two classical roots. "Acid" comes from Latin "acidus," meaning sour, and the second element comes from Greek "philos," meaning loving, so the whole means "acid-loving." The label reflects the organism's preference for acidic conditions, the environment in which it thrives and produces the lactic acid that gives fermented milk its tang. The term was coined in New Latin, the scientific Latin used by European naturalists and physicians from the early modern period onward, and English borrowed it from there. Its classical parts are old, but the combined word is a modern scientific creation, not something ancient Greeks or Romans would have recognised. Like many microbiology names, it was assembled to describe a newly studied organism by its most visible trait.