trachoma

noun tra·cho·ma \ trə-ˈkō-mə \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of trachoma

: a chronic contagious bacterial conjunctivitis marked by inflammatory granulations on the conjunctival surfaces, caused by a chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis), and commonly resulting in blindness if left untreated

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Recent Examples of trachoma from the Web

Azithromycin has been administered prophylactically for two decades to communities in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia en masse to prevent trachoma, a bacterial infection that causes blindness.

— betsy mckay, WSJ, "Prophylactic Antibiotic Use Could Reduce Childhood Death Rate," 25 Apr. 2018
One estimate finds that surgery that prevents blindness induced by trachoma, an infectious disease, costs a charity just $100 per operation.

— The Economist, "Can “effective altruism” maximise the bang for each charitable buck?," 2 June 2018
A decade ago, a group of researchers were studying how best to prevent trachoma, a blinding bacterial infection, in clusters of villages in Ethiopia.

— maryn mckenna, WIRED, "The Catch-22 of Mass-Prescribing Antibiotics," 10 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of trachoma

New Latin, from Greek trachōma, from trachys rough

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1693

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

trachoma

noun tra·cho·ma \ trə-ˈkō-mə \

medical Definition of trachoma

: a chronic contagious conjunctivitis marked by inflammatory granulations on the conjunctival surfaces, caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia (C. trachomatis), and commonly resulting in blindness if left untreated

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