gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Examples of gonorrhea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia have climbed to levels not seen in a generation. — Rasheed Gonga, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026

And in Guatemala in the 1940s, more than 1,000 people — many from society’s margins — were deliberately infected with syphilis, gonorrhea, and chancroid to study the natural course of disease. — Uzma Rentia, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026

For chlamydia and gonorrhea, treatment is a straightforward course of antibiotics. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2026

Erythromycin eye ointment protects against gonorrhea that can be contracted during birth and potentially cause blindness if untreated. — CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, morbid loss of semen, from Greek gonorrhoia, from gon- + -rrhoia -rrhea

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gonorrhea

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• kyrie
• lutea
• maria

Kids Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammatory venereal disease of the genital and urinary organs that is caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea

variants or chiefly British gonorrhoea

ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal adjective

or chiefly British gonorrhoeal

-ˈrē-əl