diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə 

nonstandard

dip- 

: 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 

 nonstandard  dip-

adjective

diphtheritic

ˌdif-thə-ˈri-tik 

 nonstandard  ˌdip-

adjective

Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Siri has contacted the FDA about pausing 13 other vaccines, the NYT reports, with his primary concern being the inclusion of aluminum in vaccines for diseases like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

And a pair of diseases, avian diphtheria and, since 2019, a mysterious and fatal respiratory illness, also infect virtually every chick. —Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024

The vaccine was first developed during WWI, and has been widely available in a combination inoculation with tetanus and diphtheria for more than seven decades. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

Under Ladapo, the state has actually been gaining on the nation as a whole in terms of flu shots for adults and holding its own on immunization for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis in toddlers. —Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024

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

Kids Definition

diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə  dip- 

: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing

diphtheritic

ˌdif-thə-ˈrit-ik 

ˌdip-

adjective

Medical Definition

diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə  dip- 

: 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

-ē-əl 

adjective