tetanus

noun

tet·​a·​nus ˈte-tə-nəs  ˈtet-nəs 

1

a

: an acute infectious bacterial disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles especially of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin of a clostridium (Clostridium tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound compare lockjaw

b

: the bacterium that causes tetanus

2

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from rapidly repeated motor impulses

Examples of tetanus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under the executive order, vaccines for diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, pertussis, HPV and varicella remain among those recommended for all children. — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

At that point, the CDC recommended children receive a vaccine against smallpox, a combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the DTP vaccine, and a vaccine against polio. — Jake Scott, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026

Most vaccines, including the tetanus-diphtheria jab used in the trial, must be refrigerated or frozen. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Vaccines in the executive order’s first group—those recommended for all children—include vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, as well as human papillomavirus (HPV) and polio, among other conditions. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek tetanos, from tetanos stretched, rigid; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tetanus

noun

tet·​a·​nus ˈtet-ə-nəs 

1

: a dangerous infectious disease marked by contraction of the muscles especially of the jaws and caused by a poison made by a bacterium that usually enters the body through a wound compare lockjaw

2

: contraction of a muscle for a much longer time than normal that results from rapidly repeated motor nerve impulses

Medical Definition

tetanus

noun

tet·​a·​nus ˈtet-ᵊn-əs, ˈtet-nəs 

1

a

: an acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles and especially of the muscles of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin produced by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound compare lockjaw

b

: tetanus bacillus

2

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from a series of motor impulses following one another too rapidly to permit intervening relaxation of the muscle