diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə 
nonstandard
dip-
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As early as 2 months old, babies get a formulation called DTaP, which besides pertussis also protects against diphtheria and tetanus.
—
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
But Native numbers began to decline with the arrival of Spanish missionaries, who brought diseases for which Natives had no immunity, including smallpox, malaria and diphtheria.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
These materials are combined with tetanus and diphtheria immunizations in two single vaccines: DTaP (which is used for infants older than two months and young children) and Tdap (which is used for older children and adults, and for people in the final trimester of pregnancy).
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024
Babies are given the DTaP vaccine, which helps protect against three diseases: pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for diphtheria 
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Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
But Native numbers began to decline with the arrival of Spanish missionaries, who brought diseases for which Natives had no immunity, including smallpox, malaria and diphtheria.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
These materials are combined with tetanus and diphtheria immunizations in two single vaccines: DTaP (which is used for infants older than two months and young children) and Tdap (which is used for older children and adults, and for people in the final trimester of pregnancy).
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024
Babies are given the DTaP vaccine, which helps protect against three diseases: pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for diphtheria
Dictionary Entries Near diphtheria
Cite this Entry
“Diphtheria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diphtheria. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing
Medical Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium (C. diphtheriae) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
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