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

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most frequently occurring forms of STIs, accounting for more than 90% of the 2022 cases, the data showed. —Tribune News Service, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2024

The STIs chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common cause of the condition. —Patty Weasler, Rn, Bsn, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2025

Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as the early stages of syphilis, were most common in the Clinton-Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with Central Harlem-Morningside Heights in Manhattan and Williamsburg-Bushwick in Brooklyn being a hotspot for gonorrhea in particular. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

While rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia rose across the city, early stages of syphilis fell drastically. —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