anaerobic

[an-uh-roh-bik, an-ai-]

adjective

1. (of an organism or tissue) living in the absence of air or free oxygen.

2. pertaining to or caused by the absence of oxygen.

anaerobic

/ ˌænɛəˈrəʊbɪk /

adjective

1. (of an organism or process) requiring the absence of or not dependent on the presence of oxygen

2. of or relating to anaerobes

anaerobic

1. Occurring in the absence of oxygen or not requiring oxygen to live. Anaerobic bacteria produce energy from food molecules without the presence of oxygen.

2. Compare aerobic

anaerobic

1. A descriptive term for a process, such as fermentation, that can proceed only in the absence of oxygen, or a living thing that can survive only in the absence of oxygen. (Compare aerobic.)

Other Word Forms

• anaerobically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of anaerobic¹

First recorded in 1880–85; anaerobe + -ic

Example Sentences

“If it doesn’t get fluffed enough, the material starts to compact and it starts to break down, what’s called anaerobically, which is without oxygen,” said the spa’s general manager, Heather Bishop.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is an odd adaptation but allows them to perform anaerobic glycolysis," Hadj-Moussa explained.

From Salon

Food waste is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant, and converted into energy by burning the methane waste that comes from it, with the by-product being used for farm fertiliser.

From BBC

In 2021, the EPA updated its definition of food waste to include composting and anaerobic digestion — both of which can take inputs like uneaten food and turn them into fertilizer or biogas, respectively.

From Salon

In 2020, the astronomy world was roused at the prospect of phosphine, a gas associated with anaerobic bacteria, after it was seemingly detected in the Venusian atmosphere.

From Salon