The editorial proposes clear definitions for key terms in microbiome research to reduce confusion and enhance understanding. Terms such as microbiome, microbiota, metagenome, metabolome, and others are defined and clarified. Microbiota refers to the community of microorganisms in a defined environment. Metataxonomics involves high-throughput characterization of microbiota and creation of a taxonomic tree. Metagenome is the collection of genomes and genes from a microbiota, obtained through shotgun sequencing and annotation. Metagenomics is the process used to characterize the metagenome, providing insights into the potential function of the microbiota. The microbiome encompasses the entire habitat, including microorganisms, their genomes, and environmental conditions. Metabolomics describes the analytical approaches used to determine metabolite profiles, while metabonomics refers to the analysis of metabolite profiles from complex systems. Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics involve the analysis of expressed RNAs and proteins, respectively. The editorial also addresses the misuse of terms such as "16S" and "microflora," suggesting alternatives like "microbiota" for microbial communities. The authors emphasize the need for a standardized vocabulary in microbiome research to improve communication and understanding among scientists and the public. The editorial aims to stimulate discussion and standardize terminology in this rapidly evolving field.The editorial proposes clear definitions for key terms in microbiome research to reduce confusion and enhance understanding. Terms such as microbiome, microbiota, metagenome, metabolome, and others are defined and clarified. Microbiota refers to the community of microorganisms in a defined environment. Metataxonomics involves high-throughput characterization of microbiota and creation of a taxonomic tree. Metagenome is the collection of genomes and genes from a microbiota, obtained through shotgun sequencing and annotation. Metagenomics is the process used to characterize the metagenome, providing insights into the potential function of the microbiota. The microbiome encompasses the entire habitat, including microorganisms, their genomes, and environmental conditions. Metabolomics describes the analytical approaches used to determine metabolite profiles, while metabonomics refers to the analysis of metabolite profiles from complex systems. Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics involve the analysis of expressed RNAs and proteins, respectively. The editorial also addresses the misuse of terms such as "16S" and "microflora," suggesting alternatives like "microbiota" for microbial communities. The authors emphasize the need for a standardized vocabulary in microbiome research to improve communication and understanding among scientists and the public. The editorial aims to stimulate discussion and standardize terminology in this rapidly evolving field.