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 Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the first diagnostic test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis that will be available without a prescription and can be performed entirely at home. —Catherine Pearson, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Overdue updates to the agency's guidance on testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea were also in progress, one official said, before the staff were laid off. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025

This symptom is commonly linked to infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2025

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

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