noun
syphilis
SIH-fih-lihs
noun
1
A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria, which can cause serious long-term health problems if untreated.
"Untreated syphilis can progress through several stages over many years."
How to Use Syphilis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bacterial infection spread through sexual contact.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “syphilis”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Untreated _____ can progress through several stages over many years.
Etymology
The name comes from a 1530 poem by Girolamo Fracastoro about a shepherd named Syphilus who was struck with the disease as punishment for offending the god Apollo.