noun
sepsis
SEHP-sihs
noun
1
A dangerous, whole-body inflammatory response to infection that can damage tissues and organs and turn life-threatening very quickly.
"The nurse spotted the early signs of sepsis and rushed him to intensive care."
"Untreated infections can sometimes progress to sepsis within hours."
How to Use Sepsis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA serious, body-wide reaction to infection where the immune system starts damaging the body's own organs.
Common mistake
Sepsis is not the infection itself — it's the body's dangerous overreaction to it.
Common pairings
signs of sepsis
sepsis develops
die from sepsis
sepsis risk
Word Forms
sepses plural
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The nurse spotted the early signs of _____ and rushed him to intensive care.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek sêpsis, "putrefaction," from sḗpō, "to make rotten."