gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Examples of gonorrhea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the clinic’s small lab, staff can do rapid testing for HIV and syphilis and on-site testing for female patients for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis — which allows clinicians to prescribe medication and treat patients immediately. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2025

The company is seeking FDA approval to also use Blujepa to treat gonorrhea, which targets more than 80 million people worldwide each year, Osheroff said. —Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Seven proved to be bona fide antimicrobial agents, as confirmed by laboratory tests, with two showing particularly strong efficacy in mouse models of gonorrhea and staph infections. —IEEE Spectrum, 14 Aug. 2025

This is despite decreases in cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to CDC data. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, morbid loss of semen, from Greek gonorrhoia, from gon- + -rrhoia -rrhea

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gonorrhea

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea

Kids Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammatory venereal disease of the genital and urinary organs that is caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea

variants or chiefly British gonorrhoea

ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal adjective

or chiefly British gonorrhoeal

-ˈrē-əl