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Typhoid Mary
noun
plural Typhoid Marys
: one that is by force of circumstances a center from which something undesirable spreads
the Typhoid Marys of the epidemics
Examples of Typhoid Mary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The same display tells the story of Typhoid Mary, with a subtle sermon buried underneath.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 8 Oct. 2021
And take a lesson from the mistakes of Typhoid Mary: Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, for a minimum of 20 seconds.
—Sandee Lamotte and Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN, 7 July 2020
One of the most infamous examples of spreading disease while being asymptomatic is household cook Mary Mallon (Typhoid Mary), who spread typhoid to numerous families in 19th-century New England during food preparation.
—Paul Dawson, Scientific American, 25 Nov. 2015
Jeb recognized his new Typhoid Mary status with portions of the base and pivoted quickly.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner, 1 Mar. 2023
Here, the Series 4 card in question is Luke Cage, who prevents Typhoid Mary from poisoning your other cards.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
In the sense that Typhoid Mary should have been proud, or Oppenheimer.
—Dennard Dayle, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2022
After World War II the holiday scene shifted away from the linen and silver and servants carted up from the Main Line and Back Bay—Typhoid Mary had been brought to work in an Islesboro household—and a new economic symbiosis between the islanders and summer people emerged.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022
There are references to the Dalai Lama, Madam Curie and Typhoid Mary.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 8 Oct. 2021
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Word History
Etymology
Typhoid Mary, nickname of Mary Mallon †1938 Irish cook in U.S. who was found to be a typhoid carrier
First Known Use
1931, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to Typhoid Mary
Dictionary Entries Near Typhoid Mary
Cite this Entry
“Typhoid Mary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Typhoid%20Mary. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on Typhoid Mary
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Typhoid Mary
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