pneumoconiosis

play

noun pneu·mo·co·ni·o·sis \ ˌnü-mō-ˌkō-nē-ˈō-səs , ˌnyü- \

Definition of pneumoconiosis

plural pneumoconioses play \-ˌsēz\

:a disease of the lungs caused by the habitual inhalation of irritants (such as mineral or metallic particles) — compare black lung, silicosis

Recent Examples of pneumoconiosis from the Web

McCool has the classic form of the disease, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.

— maya wei-haas, Smithsonian, "Why Black Lung Disease is Deadlier Than Ever Before," 16 May 2017
His doctor’s diagnosis, his widow said, was coal workers’ pneumoconiosis — or black lung.

— eric boodman, Fox News, "Trump promised to bring back coal. Now some worry he will take away miners’ black lung benefits," 28 Nov. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pneumoconiosis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pneumoconiosis

New Latin, from pneum- + Greek konis dust — more at incinerate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1881

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

pneumoconiosis

play

noun pneu·mo·co·ni·o·sis \ ˌn(y)ü-mō-ˌkō-nē-ˈō-səs \

medical Definition of pneumoconiosis

plural pneumoconioses play \-ˌsēz\

:a disease of the lungs caused by the habitual inhalation of irritants (as mineral or metallic particles) — called also miner's asthma, miner's consumption, pneumonoconiosis; see black lung, silicosis