anthrax

noun

an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks 

: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (such as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (such as wool), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs

also : the bacterium causing anthrax

Examples of anthrax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the wake of 9/11 and anthrax attacks in 2001 and other crises, the Department of Health and Human Services’s Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response established a program to provide the resources participating hospitals need to respond to disasters and public health emergencies. —Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

The new antibacterial drug also is being studied for use in treating skin infections — and even for anthrax. —Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

The year 2001 was a rough one for America by just about anyone’s standards, but to endure 9/11 and anthrax attacks… well, that’s just adding insult to injury. —Will Harris, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025

Today, anthrax remains one of the deadliest and easiest biological weapons to produce. —Thomas J. Bollyky, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French, originally a word applied to the dark skin lesion associated with the cutaneous form of the disease, extended in the 18th century to the disease itself (also called charbon); earlier, "dark skin lesion, carbuncle," going back to Middle French antrac, borrowed from Late Latin anthrac-, anthrax, borrowed from Greek anthrak-, ánthrax "charcoal (burning or unlit, usually in plural), coal, dark red precious stone, dark skin lesion," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: In the sense "carbuncle, purulent skin lesion (of various origins)," anthrax has been in occasional use in English since Middle English (then attested as antrax, antrace). Regarding the origin of the Greek word, cf. andráchlē "warming pan, brazier," (with -d- for -th-) and kándaros glossed ánthrax by Hesychius (k- alternating with ø), features (along with the suffix -ak-) suggesting substratal origin (see Robert Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2010).

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

anthrax

noun

an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks 

: an infectious and usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a bacterium and transmissible to humans

also : a bacterium causing anthrax

Medical Definition

anthrax

noun

an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks 

plural anthraces -thrə-ˌsēz 

: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (as hair), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs

also : the bacterium causing anthrax