cocci

1 of 2

noun

coc·​ci ˈkäk-sē 

: coccidioidomycosis

Though most of us have never heard of it, cases of cocci … are skyrocketing everywhere from Phoenix to California's San Joaquin Valley …

—Jim Thornton

cocci

2 of 2

plural of coccus

Examples of cocci in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Today, however, cases of cocci are found in more than 20 states and have reached as far east as Pennsylvania and Maryland, according to CDC data. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 6 May 2025

Enterprising local public health workers and Chiller’s CDC lab identified a strain of cocci in the local soil identical to the one that infected the boy. — Bymeredith Wadman, science.org, 16 Jan. 2025

Those dust storms can kick up dirt and soil that carry fungal spores called Coccidioides, or cocci. — Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2023

Meanwhile, a personal bike had 8,000 CFUs on it; all gram-positive cocci, which can cause inflammatory disease. — Josh Max, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cocci

• cocci
• diplococci
• micrococci
• pneumococci
• meningococci

Medical Definition

cocci

1 of 2 noun

coc·​ci ˈkäk-sē 

: coccidioidomycosis

Though most of us have never heard of it, cases of cocci … are skyrocketing everywhere from Phoenix to California's San Joaquin Valley …

—Jim Thornton, National Geographic Adventure

cocci

2 of 2

coc·​ci ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī also -(ˌ)(s)ē 

plural of coccus