meningitis

noun

men·​in·​gi·​tis ˌme-nən-ˈjī-təs 

plural meningitides ˌme-nən-ˈji-tə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and arachnoid

specifically : a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitides, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)

Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.

meningitic

ˌme-nən-ˈji-tik 

adjective

Examples of meningitis in a Sentence

She was diagnosed with spinal meningitis.

Recent Examples on the Web

The vaccine included a mumps strain called Urabe that was linked to an increase in meningitis in about 1 in 900 people who got that country’s original MMR vaccine — a higher rate than expected. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Koltsov died five years after the death of her dad, Sergey Sabalenka, who died unexpectedly of meningitis in 2019 when the athlete was 21 years old. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Most people face a low risk of serious illness, but fewer than 1% develop severe neurological conditions such as encephalitis or meningitis. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Vaccines protecting against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, respiratory syncytial virus and meningitis groups A, B, C, W and Y are no longer universally recommended for all children. — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing meningitis

• cerebrospinal meningitis

Rhymes for meningitis

• adenitis
• arteritis
• cervicitis
• cholangitis
• choroiditis
• decubitus
• dermatitis
• fasciitis
• gingivitis
• hepatitis
• iritis
• keratitis

Kids Definition

meningitis

noun

men·​in·​gi·​tis ˌmen-ən-ˈjīt-əs 

: a disease in which a membrane of the brain or spinal cord becomes inflamed

Medical Definition

meningitis

noun

men·​in·​gi·​tis ˌmen-ən-ˈjīt-əs 

plural meningitides -ˈjit-ə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and the arachnoid

specifically : a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)

Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.