Which shape describes spherical bacteria?

Spherical bacteria are best described by the term "coccus." This shape refers to bacteria that are round or ball-like, resembling spheres. Cocci can exist as single cells, in pairs, chains, or clusters, depending on how they divide and group together. This spherical form is a fundamental shape classification in bacteriology, and the term is derived from the Greek word “kokkos,” meaning berry.

In contrast, bacillus refers to rod-shaped bacteria, spirillum describes spiral-shaped bacteria, and vibrio pertains to bacteria that are comma-shaped. Each of these terms designates a different morphological characteristic, reinforcing the subtleties in bacterial classification based on their shapes. Therefore, when discussing spherical bacteria, coccus is the most accurate term.