pneumonia

noun

pneu·​mo·​nia nu̇-ˈmō-nyə 

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

The research work included testing stem cell production, creating and testing IV fluid, and studying how the bacteria that cause pneumonia can lead to long‑term heart damage. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Pike has pneumonia and a blood clot in one of her arms, and is not able to swallow and therefore not eating, Spivey said Wednesday. — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Initial media reports suggested a lab worker at Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute died of the plague, but Russian officials later disputed this, saying the worker died of pneumonia and that the illness was not linked to work in the lab. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Spivey described several medical issues, including a blood clot in one arm, pneumonia, the inability to swallow and no function in her arms. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing pneumonia

• double pneumonia
• Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
• primary atypical pneumonia
• walking pneumonia

Rhymes for pneumonia

• ammonia
• begonia
• bronchopneumonia
• pleuropneumonia

Kids Definition

pneumonia

noun

pneu·​mo·​nia n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə 

: 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 

: 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