nasopharyngeal

adjective

na·​so·​pha·​ryn·​geal ˌnā-zō-fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl 

-ˌfer-ən-ˈjē-əl,

-ˌfa-rən- 

: of, relating to, or affecting the nose and pharynx or the nasopharynx

Examples of nasopharyngeal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement According to Santora, many dairy workers who have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu had negative Influenza A nasopharyngeal tests and positive oral ones. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

If a specimen is taken from the nose, the method of testing is referred to as a nasopharyngeal swab. —Sherry Christiansen Updated, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2023

Scientists eventually found more links between the virus and other cancers: nasopharyngeal cancer, stomach cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ​​and other forms of lymphoma. —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2022

UT Health San Antonio set up a makeshift testing site in UTSA’s athletic training room, Bellamy said, bringing a staff of four to six people twice weekly for nasopharyngeal PCR testing. —Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 13 Feb. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

nasopharyngeal

adjective

na·​so·​pha·​ryn·​geal ˌnā-zō-fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl  -ˌfar-ən-ˈjē-əl 

: of, relating to, or affecting the nose and pharynx or the nasopharynx

nasopharyngeal cancer

nasopharyngeal secretions