noun
diphtheria
dihf-THEER-ree-uh
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
Word Forms
diphtherias plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “diphtheria”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.