phlegm

noun

ˈflem 

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

ˈfle-mē 

adjective

Synonyms

• affectlessness
• apathy
• emotionlessness
• impassiveness
• impassivity
• insensibility
• numbness

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

As the disease worsens, cardinal symptoms include cough with or without phlegm and breathlessness, especially with exertion. —Soma Mandal, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2025

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

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 *b^hleg- "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" (< *b^hl̥g-), Tocharian B palkäṃ "shines," pälketär "burns, glows"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for phlegm

• clem
• em
• femme
• gem
• hem
• rem
• stem
• them
• atm
• chernozem
• diadem
• ibidem

Kids Definition

phlegm

noun

ˈflem 

1

: thick mucus produced in abnormal quantity in the respiratory passages

2

a

: cold indifference

b

: calm fortitude

phlegmy

ˈflem-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

phlegm

noun

ˈflem 

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