diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə 
nonstandard
dip-
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The impact of these cuts is already emerging, including potential surges of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, measles, diphtheria, and even polio, drug trafficking, and migration.
—
Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
There are two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough, as well as diphtheria and tetanus.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
The diphtheria vaccine, which the CDC recommends for everyone, helps protect against tetanus and whooping cough and is one of the vaccines kids need to get in order to attend school in Florida.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
The order also doesn’t mention other childhood vaccines that schools across the country require, like diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 14 Feb. 2025
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Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
There are two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough, as well as diphtheria and tetanus.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
The diphtheria vaccine, which the CDC recommends for everyone, helps protect against tetanus and whooping cough and is one of the vaccines kids need to get in order to attend school in Florida.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
The order also doesn’t mention other childhood vaccines that schools across the country require, like diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diphtheria
Cite this Entry
“Diphtheria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diphtheria. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing
Medical Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium (C. diphtheriae) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
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