diphtheria
dihf-THEER-ree-uh
Diphtheria (noun) means a serious bacterial infection that inflames the throat and upper airways. Example: “Vaccination has made diphtheria extremely rare in most countries.”
noun
1
A serious bacterial infection that inflames the throat and upper airways.
"Vaccination has made diphtheria extremely rare in most countries."
How to use diphtheria
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dangerous throat infection, now mostly prevented by childhood vaccination.
Common pairings
diphtheria vaccine
diphtheria outbreak
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Word forms
- Plural
- diphtherias
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Vaccination has made _____ extremely rare in most countries.
Etymology
From French diphtérie, coined in 1855 from Greek diphthéra ("leather" or "membrane"), referring to the tough membrane the disease forms in the throat.
Rhymes for diphtheria
See all rhymes for diphtheria →Frequently asked questions
What does “diphtheria” mean?
The word “diphtheria” means a serious bacterial infection that inflames the throat and upper airways. In plain terms, a dangerous throat infection, now mostly prevented by childhood vaccination.
How do you pronounce “diphtheria”?
“Diphtheria” is pronounced dihf-THEER-ree-uh (/dɪfˈθɪɹ.i.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “diphtheria” in a sentence?
Here is “diphtheria” used in a sentence: “Vaccination has made diphtheria extremely rare in most countries.”
What part of speech is “diphtheria”?
“Diphtheria” is a noun.
Where does the word “diphtheria” come from?
The word “diphtheria” dates back to around 1855 and comes from French. From French diphtérie, coined in 1855 from Greek diphthéra ("leather" or "membrane"), referring to the tough membrane the disease forms in the throat.
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