meningococcus

noun

me·​nin·​go·​coc·​cus mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkä-kəs How to pronounce meningococcus (audio) -ˌnin-jə- How to pronounce meningococcus (audio)
plural meningococci mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkäk-ˌsī How to pronounce meningococcus (audio)
-ˌsē;
-ˈkä-ˌkī,
-ˌkē How to pronounce meningococcus (audio)
-ˌnin-jə-
: the bacterium (Neisseria meningitidis) that causes cerebrospinal meningitis
meningococcal adjective
or less commonly meningococcic
mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkäk-sik How to pronounce meningococcus (audio)
-ˈkä-kik,
-ˌnin-jə-

Examples of meningococcus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web IHEs have long required vaccinations of students—for human papillomavirus, meningococcus and influenza, for example. Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2021 Between January 2010 and June 2020, the FDA approved 21 vaccines, most commonly for influenza (5 [23.8%]) and meningococcus (5 [23.8%]). Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 16 Nov. 2020 Air travel is a way to spread many virulent infectious diseases, including diphtheria, hepatitis A, influenza A and B, measles, mumps, meningococcus, rubella, tuberculosis, norovirus – the list goes on. Keith Joiner, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2020 The ill student’s case was for meningococcus group B, which is not the same one covered by a vaccine required for incoming students, officials said. George Kelly, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2017 Many of the cases carry the same strain of meningococcus bacteria, known as serotype C, and have been linked through social connections, according to the health department. Soumya Karlamangla, latimes.com, 9 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meningococcus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meningococcus was circa 1893

Dictionary Entries Near meningococcus

Cite this Entry

“Meningococcus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meningococcus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

meningococcus

noun
me·​nin·​go·​coc·​cus mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkäk-əs How to pronounce meningococcus (audio) -ˌnin-jə- How to pronounce meningococcus (audio)
plural meningococci -ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī How to pronounce meningococcus (audio) -(ˌ)(s)ē How to pronounce meningococcus (audio)
: a bacterium of the genus Neisseria (N. meningitidis) that causes cerebrospinal meningitis
meningococcal adjective
also meningococcic

More from Merriam-Webster on meningococcus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!