anthrax

noun

an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (such as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (such as wool), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs
also : the bacterium causing anthrax

Examples of anthrax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other vaccines were also being discussed by the panel, but not voted on, including those for COVID-19, measles, chikungunya and anthrax. Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 26 June 2025 Past research has also found that scavengers help keep livestock healthy, such as by preventing the spread of diseases like anthrax, bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025 However, the 2016 anthrax outbreak was a preview of what’s possible—but not the worst-case scenario. Scott Travers, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 The facility was created and built by DHS as a federal response to anthrax letter attacks in 2001. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for anthrax

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French, originally a word applied to the dark skin lesion associated with the cutaneous form of the disease, extended in the 18th century to the disease itself (also called charbon); earlier, "dark skin lesion, carbuncle," going back to Middle French antrac, borrowed from Late Latin anthrac-, anthrax, borrowed from Greek anthrak-, ánthrax "charcoal (burning or unlit, usually in plural), coal, dark red precious stone, dark skin lesion," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: In the sense "carbuncle, purulent skin lesion (of various origins)," anthrax has been in occasional use in English since Middle English (then attested as antrax, antrace). Regarding the origin of the Greek word, cf. andráchlē "warming pan, brazier," (with -d- for -th-) and kándaros glossed ánthrax by Hesychius (k- alternating with ø), features (along with the suffix -ak-) suggesting substratal origin (see Robert Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2010).

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anthrax was in 1776

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Cite this Entry

“Anthrax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthrax. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

anthrax

noun
an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
: an infectious and usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a bacterium and transmissible to humans
also : a bacterium causing anthrax

Medical Definition

anthrax

noun
an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
plural anthraces -thrə-ˌsēz How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (as hair), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs
also : the bacterium causing anthrax

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