tetanus

noun

tet·​a·​nus ˈte-tə-nəs  ˈtet-nəs 

1

a

: an acute infectious bacterial disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles especially of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin of a clostridium (Clostridium tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound compare lockjaw

b

: the bacterium that causes tetanus

2

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from rapidly repeated motor impulses

Examples of tetanus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Florida’s state legislature needs to get involved to make other mandatory school vaccines optional,including those that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps and rubella. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025

These include the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, polio vaccine, and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. —ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025

Notably, the change does not affect shots for polio, measles, mumps and tetanus, among others. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025

But if the person giving birth doesn't have immunity to tetanus, nonsterile delivery practices can result in neonatal tetanus. —Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek tetanos, from tetanos stretched, rigid; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tetanus

noun

tet·​a·​nus ˈtet-ə-nəs 

1

: a dangerous infectious disease marked by contraction of the muscles especially of the jaws and caused by a poison made by a bacterium that usually enters the body through a wound compare lockjaw

2

: contraction of a muscle for a much longer time than normal that results from rapidly repeated motor nerve impulses

Medical Definition

tetanus

noun

tet·​a·​nus ˈtet-ᵊn-əs, ˈtet-nəs 

1

a

: an acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles and especially of the muscles of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin produced by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound compare lockjaw

b

: tetanus bacillus

2

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from a series of motor impulses following one another too rapidly to permit intervening relaxation of the muscle