corynebacteria

plural noun, singular cor·y·ne·bac·te·ri·um [kawr-uh-nee-bak-teer-ee-uh m, kuh–rin–uh-] /ˌkɔr ə ni bækˈtɪər i əm, kəˈrɪn ə-/.

1. rod-shaped bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium, many species of which are pathogenic.