whooping cough

noun

whoop·​ing cough ˈhü-piŋ- 

ˈhu̇-

: an infectious respiratory disease especially of children caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis) and marked by a convulsive spasmodic cough sometimes followed by a crowing intake of breath

called also pertussis

Examples of whooping cough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How to protect yourself from whooping cough Vaccination is the method of protection against whooping cough, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2025

Part of the reason whooping cough may not be in your everyday lexicon is because cases have dropped precipitously since a vaccine was introduced in the 1940s and included in the childhood vaccination regimen. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025

Most whooping cough symptoms can be managed at home, according to the CDC. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2025

Cases of pertussis — also known as whooping cough — have skyrocketed by more than 1,500% nationwide since hitting a recent low in 2021. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whooping cough

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

whooping cough

noun

: a disease especially of children that is caused by a bacterium and is marked by severe attacks of coughing often followed by a high-pitched gasping intake of breath

called also pertussis

Medical Definition

whooping cough

noun

: an infectious disease especially of children caused by a bacterium of the genus Bordetella (B. pertussis) and marked by a convulsive spasmodic cough sometimes followed by a crowing intake of breath

called also pertussis