pneumoconiosis

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

Definition of pneumoconiosis

plural pneumoconioses play \ˌnü-mō-ˌkō-nē-ˈō-ˌsēz, ˌnyü-\

: 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

In 2014, the program reported an increase in black lung disease or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.

— marissa fessenden, Smithsonian, "Study Uncovers Startling Number of Black Lung Cases in Coal Miners," 8 Feb. 2018
New South Wales, the state bordering Queensland’s south, reported in February its first case of pneumoconiosis in a coalmine worker since the 1970s.

— perry williams, Bloomberg.com, "A Deadly Disease That Strikes Coal Miners Has Returned in Australia," 8 Sep. 2017
From bladder cancer in dye workers to the lung disease pneumoconiosis in coal miners, researchers found that occupational exposure to various carcinogens and toxins was linked to about 800,000 deaths annually.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Pollution kills 9 million people each year, new study finds," 20 Oct. 2017
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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

pneumoconiosis

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