common cold

noun

: an acute disease of the upper respiratory tract that is marked by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, eyes, and eustachian tubes and by a watery then purulent discharge and is caused by any of several viruses (such as a rhinovirus or an adenovirus)

Examples of common cold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like the common cold, the reading slump and its symptoms will come to us all eventually. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 July 2025

Unlike most respiratory diseases like the common cold and flu, which generally peak during the winter, COVID-19 tends to spike twice and sometimes three times a year: once in the fall and winter, once in spring, and another time in the summer. —Alice Park, Time, 24 July 2025

The most common cold viruses peak in contagiousness around day two or three after the start of symptoms. —Jennifer Welsh, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2025

Mathieu had been experiencing symptoms of a common cold over the past few days. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for common cold

• copyhold
• decontrolled
• hundredfold
• manifold
• marigold
• oversold
• petioled
• sevenfold
• stranglehold
• subthreshold
• thousandfold
• uncontrolled

Kids Definition

common cold

noun

: a contagious viral illness of the structures used in breathing which causes the nose and throat to be sore, swollen, and inflamed and in which there is usually much mucus and coughing and sneezing

Medical Definition

common cold

noun

: an acute contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract that is marked by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, eyes, and eustachian tubes with a watery then purulent discharge and is caused by any of several viruses (as a rhinovirus or an adenovirus)