noun

catarrh

kuh-TAHR

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Catarrh (noun) means Excess mucus produced by an inflamed membrane in the nose or throat, or the discharge itself. Example: “His catarrh made it hard to breathe through his nose at night.”

noun

medicine Excess mucus produced by an inflamed membrane in the nose or throat, or the discharge itself.

"His catarrh made it hard to breathe through his nose at night."

"The doctor prescribed a decongestant for her catarrh."

"Catarrh often builds up at the back of the throat during a cold."

informal A cold or similar illness that causes a blocked or runny nose.

"He's been in bed all week with a bad bout of catarrh."

"Cold, damp weather always brings on her catarrh."

How to use catarrh

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIt is the thick mucus and blocked feeling you get in your nose and throat, often from a cold or allergy.

When to use it

It is used both as a medical term and as an everyday word for a heavy, blocked-up cold.

Memory tip

Catarrh is pronounced like the country Qatar, which is why the two are sometimes confused in speech.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

Qatar →

Common pairings

bad catarrh suffer from catarrh clear catarrh chronic catarrh

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “catarrh” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

His _____ made it hard to breathe through his nose at night.

Etymology

The word reached English through medieval Latin catarrus, which came from late Latin catarrhus. That in turn came from the ancient Greek katarrhoos, meaning a flowing down, formed from kata, meaning down, and rheo, meaning to flow.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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coryza

Related words

cold coryza

Frequently asked questions

What is catarrh?

It is a build-up of mucus caused by inflammation of a membrane in the nose or throat, and the word is also used loosely for a cold that produces it.

Is catarrh the same as a cold?

Not exactly. Catarrh is the mucus and congestion themselves, though people often use the word loosely to mean the cold or illness that causes it.

Where does the word catarrh come from?

It comes from Greek katarrhoos, meaning a flowing down, and reached English by way of Latin.

What is the meaning of catarrh?

"catarrh" (noun) means excess mucus produced by an inflamed membrane in the nose or throat, or the discharge itself.

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