Conan the Bacterium

proper noun

The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, which is highly resistant to various stresses (especially radiation).

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. informalbiologyThe bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, which is highly resistant to various stresses (especially radiation).

Origin

Blend of Conan the Barbarian + bacterium. A play on Conan the Barbarian. From the hardy warrior Conan of Cimmeria created by Robert E. Howard, and his most popular muscular incarnation portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1980s films. Where this bacteria, Deinococcus radiodurans, also exhibits qualities of extreme hardiness.

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Cite this entry
APA

Conan the Bacterium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Conan%20the%20Bacterium

MLA

“Conan the Bacterium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Conan%20the%20Bacterium. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Conan the Bacterium,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Conan%20the%20Bacterium.

Source: Conan the Bacterium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.