chlamydia

noun

chla·​myd·​ia klə-ˈmi-dē-ə How to pronounce chlamydia (audio)
plural chlamydiae klə-ˈmi-dē-ˌē How to pronounce chlamydia (audio)
1
: any of a genus (Chlamydia, family Chlamydiaceae) of spherical gram-negative intracellular bacteria
especially : one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and urogenital tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of urethritis
2
: a disease or infection caused by chlamydiae
chlamydial
klə-ˈmi-dē-əl How to pronounce chlamydia (audio)
adjective

Examples of chlamydia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Similarly, chlamydia and gonorrhea infections surged in Shawano County, Wisconsin after a Planned Parenthood clinic closed there. —Katie Camero, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024 Men with untreated chlamydia can also experience painful infections and swollen joints. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2024 According to official government statistics, diagnoses of chlamydia remained relatively stable in 2023. —Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 29 Oct. 2024 Yes, STIs like trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea may cause yellow discharge. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chlamydia 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, originally the name of a group, from Greek chlamyd-, chlamýs "mantle, chlamys" + New Latin -ia -ia entry 1

Note: The taxon Chlamydia was originally assigned to a group of microorganisms neither bacterial nor viral by Helen Jones, Geoffrey Rake, and Barbara Stearns in "Studies on lymphogranuloma venereum III. The action of the sulfonamides on the agent of lymphogranuloma venereum," Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 76, issue 1 (January, 1945), pp. 55-69. The choice of the element chlamyd- was presumably based on the earlier taxon Chlamydozoa (with -zoa -zoa) originated by Ludwig Halberstädter and Stanislaus von Prowazek, "Über Zelleinschlüsse parasitärer Natur beim Trachom," Arbeiten aus dem Kaiserlichen Gesundheitsamte, vol. 26, Heft 1 (1907), pp. 44-47.

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chlamydia was in 1966

Dictionary Entries Near chlamydia

chlamydeous

chlamydia

Chlamydobacteriaceae

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Chlamydia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chlamydia. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

chlamydia

noun
chla·​myd·​ia klə-ˈmid-ē-ə How to pronounce chlamydia (audio)
1
capitalized : the type genus of the family Chlamydiaceae comprising coccoid to spherical gram-negative intracellular parasitic bacteria and including one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and genitourinary tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of nongonococcal urethritis
2
plural chlamydiae -ē-ˌē, -ˌī How to pronounce chlamydia (audio) also chlamydias
a
: a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia
b
: an infection or disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia
chlamydial
-ē-əl How to pronounce chlamydia (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on chlamydia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chlamydia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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