pneumococcus
noun
pneu·mo·coc·cus
ˌnü-mə-ˈkä-kəs 
ˌnyü-
plural pneumococci
ˌnü-mə-ˈkäk-ˌsī
-ˌsē;
-ˈkä-ˌkī,
-ˌkē,
ˌnyü-
: a bacterium (Streptococcus pneumoniae) that causes an acute pneumonia involving one or more lobes of the lung
Examples of pneumococcus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pneumococcal vaccine The pneumococcus (pneumonia) vaccine is recommended for children younger than 5 years and adults 50 years or older.
—
Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024
The introduction of the first pneumococcus vaccine, which addressed seven strains, cut childhood infection rates in half from 2000 to 2001.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 28 June 2023
And his investments into have helped save countless lives, including by accelerating the distribution of vaccines for diseases like pneumococcus and rotavirus, funding the distribution of tools like bed nets to limit the spread of malaria, and investing in research, including for malaria vaccines.
—Time, 7 June 2022
This microbe, commonly known as pneumococcus, is the world’s leading cause of life-threatening bacterial lung infection.
—Claire Panosian Dunavan, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2018
In 1996, when levofloxacin hit prescription pads, a strain of pneumococcus became resistant to it that very year.
—Christian Millman, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2018
In the case of pneumococcus, for example, immunizing children indirectly protects older adults by limiting transmission.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2022
These protect against pneumonia and other serious diseases, such as meningitis and bacteremia, from the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 10 May 2021
Last week, Merkel received a vaccine shot against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, from a doctor who later tested positive for coronavirus, her office said Sunday.
—NBC News, 24 Mar. 2020
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Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024
The introduction of the first pneumococcus vaccine, which addressed seven strains, cut childhood infection rates in half from 2000 to 2001.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 28 June 2023
And his investments into have helped save countless lives, including by accelerating the distribution of vaccines for diseases like pneumococcus and rotavirus, funding the distribution of tools like bed nets to limit the spread of malaria, and investing in research, including for malaria vaccines.
—Time, 7 June 2022
This microbe, commonly known as pneumococcus, is the world’s leading cause of life-threatening bacterial lung infection.
—Claire Panosian Dunavan, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2018
In 1996, when levofloxacin hit prescription pads, a strain of pneumococcus became resistant to it that very year.
—Christian Millman, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2018
In the case of pneumococcus, for example, immunizing children indirectly protects older adults by limiting transmission.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2022
These protect against pneumonia and other serious diseases, such as meningitis and bacteremia, from the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 10 May 2021
Last week, Merkel received a vaccine shot against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, from a doctor who later tested positive for coronavirus, her office said Sunday.
—NBC News, 24 Mar. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Pneumococcus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumococcus. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pneumococcus
noun
pneu·mo·coc·cus
ˌn(y)ü-mə-ˈkäk-əs
plural pneumococci
-ˈkäk-(s)ī
-ˈkäk-(ˌ)(s)ē
: a bacterium that causes pneumonia
Medical Definition
pneumococcus
noun
pneu·mo·coc·cus
ˌn(y)ü-mə-ˈkäk-əs
plural pneumococci
-ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī
: a bacterium of the genus Streptococcus (S. pneumoniae) that causes an acute pneumonia involving one or more lobes of the lung
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