diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə How to pronounce diphtheria (audio)
nonstandard
dip- How to pronounce diphtheria (audio)
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
diphtherial
dif-ˈthir-ē-əl How to pronounce diphtheria (audio)
 nonstandard  dip-
adjective
diphtheritic
ˌdif-thə-ˈri-tik How to pronounce diphtheria (audio)
 nonstandard  ˌdip-
adjective

Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence

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.
Tdap vaccine The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine helps to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024 As early as 2 months old, babies get a formulation called DTaP, which besides pertussis also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024 But Native numbers began to decline with the arrival of Spanish missionaries, who brought diseases for which Natives had no immunity, including smallpox, malaria and diphtheria. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 These materials are combined with tetanus and diphtheria immunizations in two single vaccines: DTaP (which is used for infants older than two months and young children) and Tdap (which is used for older children and adults, and for people in the final trimester of pregnancy). Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for diphtheria 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphthera leather; from the toughness of the false membrane

First Known Use

circa 1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diphtheria was circa 1851

Dictionary Entries Near diphtheria

Cite this Entry

“Diphtheria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diphtheria. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

diphtheria

noun
diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə How to pronounce diphtheria (audio) dip- How to pronounce diphtheria (audio)
: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing
diphtheritic adjective

Medical Definition

diphtheria

noun
diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə How to pronounce diphtheria (audio) dip- How to pronounce diphtheria (audio)
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium (C. diphtheriae) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
diphtherial adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on diphtheria

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