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

Symptoms of whooping cough include: A common cold (also called Coryza), including typical symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and congestion. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025

Early signs of whooping cough in adults look very much like a common cold, Dr. Loafman says. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025

People who do not get enough high-quality sleep are more likely to catch the common cold and may take longer to recover. —Lia Miller, Parents, 17 Jan. 2025

Most of the nearly 100 million Americans who traveled abroad in 2023 didn’t deal with anything more than stomach discomfort or a common cold. —Lisa McCarty, New York Times, 9 Jan. 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)