pneumonia

noun

pneu·​mo·​nia nu̇-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce pneumonia (audio)
nyu̇-
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Screenings for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, along with vaccines for flu, shingles, and pneumonia, are key to prevention. Conviva Senior Primary Care, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025 Air pollution exposure makes one more susceptible to stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and pneumonia, according to the World Health Organization. Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025 Keaton, the iconic star of Annie Hall, Baby Boom and many, many others, died of pneumonia last Saturday, October 11, at the age of 79. Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025 Keaton died from pneumonia at the age of 79. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pneumonia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, from pneumōn lung, alteration of pleumōn — more at pulmonary

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pneumonia was in 1603

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pneumonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumonia. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pneumonia

noun
pneu·​mo·​nia n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce pneumonia (audio)
: a disease of the lungs marked by inflammation, congestion, fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing and caused especially by infection

Medical Definition

pneumonia

noun
pneu·​mo·​nia n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce pneumonia (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on pneumonia

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