gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Examples of gonorrhea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, men had higher rates of gonorrhea and syphilis than women. —Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024

In 2023, the CDC recorded 209,000 cases of syphilis, 600,000 cases of gonorrhea, and over 1.6 million cases of chlamydia. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

In November 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, which public health experts hope might also help combat the spread of STIs. —Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

Yes, STIs like trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea may cause yellow discharge. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, morbid loss of semen, from Greek gonorrhoia, from gon- + -rrhoia -rrhea

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammatory venereal disease of the genital and urinary organs that is caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea

variants or chiefly British gonorrhoea

ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal adjective

or chiefly British gonorrhoeal

-ˈrē-əl