phlegm

noun

1
: viscid mucus secreted in abnormal quantity in the respiratory passages
2
: the one of the four humors (see humor sense 2c) in ancient and medieval physiology that was believed to be cold and moist and to cause lethargy and dullness
3
a
: dull or apathetic coldness or indifference
b
: intrepid coolness or calm fortitude
phlegmy adjective

Examples of phlegm in a Sentence

He displayed remarkable phlegm in very dangerous conditions. a man of remarkable phlegm, never showing enthusiasm nor displeasure
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other common symptoms of CF include coughing attacks (often with phlegm), shortness of breath, greasy and bulky stools, rectal prolapse and constipation. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025 Seek emergency medical attention if your breathlessness is sudden or severe or is accompanied by chest pain, fever, or coughing up pink-tinged phlegm. Soma Mandal, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2025 Symptoms and safety measures Common symptoms of active TB include coughing, chest pains, fever, fatigue and coughing up blood or phlegm. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025 People generally fall into two camps: those who enjoy the taste and ‘mouthfeel’ and those who view eating them as akin to swallowing a large glob of phlegm. New Atlas, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for phlegm

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fleume, fleem, flemne "one of the four humors, temperament in which this humor is predominant (alleged to cause indolence or stolidity), bodily discharge, mucus," borrowed from Anglo-French fleume, flume, flegme (continental Old French flegme), borrowed from Late Latin phlegmat-, phlegma, borrowed from Greek phlegmat-, phlégma "flame, fire, inflammation, one of the four humors, white or colorless body secretion (as mucus, saliva)," from phleg-, stem of phlégein "to burn up, consume, kindle, fire up, (intransitive) blaze, gleam" + -mat-, -ma, resultative noun suffix; *phleg- going back to Indo-European *bhleg- "shine, be bright," whence also, with varying ablaut, Germanic *blak- "flash, shine, burn" (see black entry 1), Latin fulgō, fulgere, later fulgeō, fulgēre "to shine brightly, flash, lighten" (< *bhl̥g-), Tocharian B palkäṃ "shines," pälketär "burns, glows"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of phlegm was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Phlegm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phlegm. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

phlegm

noun
1
: thick mucus produced in abnormal quantity in the respiratory passages
2
a
: cold indifference
b
: calm fortitude
phlegmy adjective

Medical Definition

phlegm

noun
1
: viscid mucus secreted in abnormal quantity in the respiratory passages
2
: the one of the four humors (see humor sense 2) of ancient and medieval physiology that was believed to be cold and moist and to cause lethargy and dullness

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