gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Examples of gonorrhea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The at-home kit, according to the FDA, is the first of its kind to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, three of the most common STIs with symptoms that often go unnoticed. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025

Take an opportunity to educate your partner about gonorrhea and other STIs. —James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 14 Sep. 2024

This typically checks for a bunch of heavy hitters at once, Dr. Ross says, including, yes, BV and yeast, but also trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 27 Feb. 2025

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise in New York City, a new report reveals. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, morbid loss of semen, from Greek gonorrhoia, from gon- + -rrhoia -rrhea

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gonorrhea

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea

Kids Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammatory venereal disease of the genital and urinary organs that is caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea

variants or chiefly British gonorrhoea

ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal adjective

or chiefly British gonorrhoeal

-ˈrē-əl