pertussis

noun

per·​tus·​sis pər-ˈtə-səs 

: whooping cough

Examples of pertussis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ninety percent of infants received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, and 85 percent completed the full three-dose series, 2025 data show. — Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

That’s the percentage of infants globally who received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine last year, according to annual WHO and UNICEF estimates. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 15 July 2026

The affected data include childhood immunization rates against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, hepatitis, chicken pox and flu; and rates for 13 year olds and expectant mothers. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

The first pertussis vaccine was introduced in the 1910s, followed by the combination DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine in the 1940s. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin per- thoroughly + tussis cough

First Known Use

circa 1772, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pertussis

• phasis

Kids Definition

pertussis

noun

per·​tus·​sis pər-ˈtəs-əs 

: whooping cough

Medical Definition

pertussis

noun

per·​tus·​sis pər-ˈtəs-əs 

: whooping cough