diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə 
nonstandard
dip-
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Vaccination rates among kindergartners has decreased nationally in recent years, not only in regard to the Tdap vaccine used to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, but also other vaccines as well, meaning other illnesses have also been on the rise.
—
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
To prevent whooping cough, officials recommend individuals receive the Tdap or DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025
And to boost the body’s immune response, it is added to some vaccines—such as those for human papillomavirus (HPV) and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), as well as some combination vaccines that protect against polio.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025
The shots protect against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and mumps, which once plagued children and their parents.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
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Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
To prevent whooping cough, officials recommend individuals receive the Tdap or DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025
And to boost the body’s immune response, it is added to some vaccines—such as those for human papillomavirus (HPV) and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), as well as some combination vaccines that protect against polio.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025
The shots protect against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and mumps, which once plagued children and their parents.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diphtheria
Cite this Entry
“Diphtheria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diphtheria. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing
Medical Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium (C. diphtheriae) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system
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