Kalmar “coliphage” haɗe ce ta “coli” (wani nau’in ƙwayoyin cuta da ake samu a cikin hanji na mutane da dabbobi) da kuma “phage” (ƙwayar cuta da ke kamuwa da cuta kuma tana yin kwafi a cikin ƙwayoyin cuta). p>A cikin ilmin halitta, coliphage yana nufin nau'in kwayar cutar da ke cutar da kwayoyin E. coli musamman. Ana amfani da waɗannan ƙwayoyin cuta a matsayin kayan aiki don nazarin kwayoyin halittar ƙwayoyin cuta da kuma alamun gurɓatawar ƙwayoyin cuta a cikin abinci, ruwa, da sauran wurare.