tonsillitis

noun

ton·​sil·​li·​tis ˌtän(t)-sə-ˈlī-təs 

: inflammation of the tonsils

Examples of tonsillitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kids reported rashes and chronic tonsillitis, but no one knows the extent of the long-term consequences. — Lisa Song, ProPublica, 7 May 2026

The doctor diagnosed Hugo with tonsillitis and sent them home, but Charlene said something just didn't seem right. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026

Then tonsillitis spiraled into sepsis. — Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025

In 2022, Chambliss suffered from tonsillitis and sleep apnea. — Bomani Jones, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tonsillitis

• cellulitis
• margaritas
• caritas
• mellitus
• fetus
• foetus
• meatus
• thetis
• treatise

Kids Definition

tonsillitis

noun

ton·​sil·​li·​tis ˌtän(t)-sə-ˈlīt-əs 

: inflammation of the tonsils

Medical Definition

tonsillitis

noun

ton·​sil·​li·​tis ˌtän(t)-sə-ˈlīt-əs 

: inflammation of the tonsils and especially the palatine tonsils typically due to viral or bacterial infection and marked by red enlarged tonsils usually with sore throat, fever, difficult swallowing, hoarseness or loss of voice, and tender or swollen lymph nodes