typhus

noun

ty·​phus ˈtī-fəs 

: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsias: such as

a

: a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash

b

: murine typhus

c

: scrub typhus

Examples of typhus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But his family summered in Santo Stefano Belbo, the village of his paternal ancestors; Pavese also attended his first year of school in the village while his sister recovered from typhus. — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Along with other infectious diseases like diphtheria, influenza, typhus, and measles, historians estimate10 to100 million people died in these epidemics within only a few centuries. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026

Scrub typhus is most commonly found in rural Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, the Indian subcontinent and Australia, according to the CDC. — Eva Flowe june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026

Its symptoms are similar to typhus, except the rash starts at the extremities and moves to the trunk. — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek typhos fever; akin to Greek typhein to smoke — more at deaf entry 1

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing typhus

• murine typhus
• scrub typhus

Rhymes for typhus

• sisyphus

Kids Definition

typhus

noun

ty·​phus ˈtī-fəs 

: any of various diseases caused by bacteria that are rickettsias: as

a

: a severe disease that is marked by high fever, muscle and joint pain, cough, intense headache, and a red rash, and that is passed on especially by body lice

b

: a mild disease that is marked by fever, headache, and red rash and is passed on by fleas

Medical Definition

typhus

noun

ty·​phus ˈtī-fəs 

: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsial bacteria: as

a

: a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash

called also louse-borne typhus

b

: murine typhus

c

: scrub typhus