chlamydia

noun

chla·​myd·​ia klə-ˈmi-dē-ə 

plural chlamydiae klə-ˈmi-dē-ˌē 

1

: any of a genus (Chlamydia, family Chlamydiaceae) of spherical gram-negative intracellular bacteria

especially : one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and urogenital tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of urethritis

2

: a disease or infection caused by chlamydiae

chlamydial

klə-ˈmi-dē-əl 

adjective

Examples of chlamydia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, chlamydia and gonorrhea infections surged in Shawano County, Wisconsin after a Planned Parenthood clinic closed there. —Katie Camero, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024

Men with untreated chlamydia can also experience painful infections and swollen joints. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2024

According to official government statistics, diagnoses of chlamydia remained relatively stable in 2023. —Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Yes, STIs like trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea may cause yellow discharge. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, originally the name of a group, from Greek chlamyd-, chlamýs "mantle, chlamys" + New Latin -ia -ia entry 1

Note: The taxon Chlamydia was originally assigned to a group of microorganisms neither bacterial nor viral by Helen Jones, Geoffrey Rake, and Barbara Stearns in "Studies on lymphogranuloma venereum III. The action of the sulfonamides on the agent of lymphogranuloma venereum," Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 76, issue 1 (January, 1945), pp. 55-69. The choice of the element chlamyd- was presumably based on the earlier taxon Chlamydozoa (with -zoa -zoa) originated by Ludwig Halberstädter and Stanislaus von Prowazek, "Über Zelleinschlüsse parasitärer Natur beim Trachom," Arbeiten aus dem Kaiserlichen Gesundheitsamte, vol. 26, Heft 1 (1907), pp. 44-47.

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

chlamydia

noun

chla·​myd·​ia klə-ˈmid-ē-ə 

1

capitalized : the type genus of the family Chlamydiaceae comprising coccoid to spherical gram-negative intracellular parasitic bacteria and including one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and genitourinary tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of nongonococcal urethritis

2

plural chlamydiae -ē-ˌē, -ˌī  also chlamydias

a

: a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia

b

: an infection or disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia

chlamydial

-ē-əl 

adjective