pneumonia

noun

pneu·mo·nia | \ nu̇-ˈmō-nyə

, nyu̇-\

Definition of pneumonia

: an acute disease that is marked by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and often bronchioles with white blood cells (such as neutrophils) and fibrinous exudate, is characterized by fever, chills, cough, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and reduced lung expansion, and is typically caused by an infectious agent (such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus) — see bronchopneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia — compare pneumonitis

Examples of pneumonia in a Sentence

He caught pneumonia over the winter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Influenza, pneumonia and diabetes also contributed to the increase. — WSJ, "Immigration, Mueller Probe Boosted U.S. Tensions This Year," 18 Dec. 2018 The measles can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. — Rita Giordano, Philly.com, "Second suspected measles case detected in South Jersey," 5 July 2018 Their deaths were recorded as due to factors such as pneumonia. — Simon Baron-cohen, Scientific American, "The Truth About Hans Asperger’s Nazi Collusion," 17 May 2018 In some cases, serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis could develop. — Fox News, "New Jersey residents may have been exposed to measles at several places, including Newark Airport," 13 May 2018 In the poorest fifth of countries the four most common causes are lower respiratory infections (such as pneumonia), malaria, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS. — The Economist, "The epidemiological transition is now spreading to the emerging world," 26 Apr. 2018 When that happens, time is of the essence; a persistent or recurrent fever may mean the child has developed a complication such as pneumonia or a dangerous inflammatory response, and parents must seek prompt medical attention. — Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, "How to Know When a Child’s Flu Turns Serious," 7 Feb. 2018 This causes a higher vulnerability to secondary bacterial infections such as MRSA pneumonia. — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Oregon Mom Dies Just Two Days After Being Diagnosed with the Flu: 'I'm at a Loss,' Says Boyfriend," 30 Jan. 2018 Contracting the flu can lead to a weakened immune system, which can become susceptible to potentially deadly bacterial infections, such as pneumonia. — Mahita Gajanan, Time, "Here's How Widespread the Flu Is This Year," 22 Jan. 2018

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

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Last Updated

19 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for pneumonia

The first known use of pneumonia was in 1603

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More Definitions for pneumonia

pneumonia

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pneumonia

medical : a serious disease that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe

See the full definition for pneumonia in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pneumonia

noun

pneu·mo·nia | \ nu̇-ˈmō-nyə

, nyu̇-ˈmō-\

Kids Definition of pneumonia

: a serious illness affecting the lungs that is marked especially by fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing

pneumonia

noun

pneu·mo·nia | \ n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə

Medical Definition of pneumonia

: an acute disease that is marked by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and often bronchioles with white blood cells (as neutrophils) and fibrinous exudate, is characterized by fever, chills, cough, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and reduced lung expansion, and is typically caused by an infectious agent (as a bacterium, virus, or fungus) — see bronchopneumonia, lobar pneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia