typhoid fever

Definition of typhoid fever

: a communicable disease marked especially by fever, diarrhea, prostration, headache, and intestinal inflammation and caused by a bacterium (Salmonella typhi)

Examples of typhoid fever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Zac Efron was hospitalized last week after contracting a bacterial infection, believed to be typhoid fever, in Papua New Guinea. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Zac Efron contracted what's believed to be typhoid fever while filming show in Papua New Guinea," 30 Dec. 2019 The illness is treated with antibiotics; if left untreated, typhoid fever can cause complications that can be fatal. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Zac Efron Reportedly Hospitalized With a Bacterial Infection," 30 Dec. 2019 In addition to his work on the Hib meningitis vaccine, Dr. Robbins played a leading role in research on vaccines for pertussis (also known as whooping cough), typhoid fever, staph infections, E. coli and other infectious agents. — Emily Langer, Washington Post, "John Robbins, pioneer of a meningitis vaccine, dies at 86," 20 Dec. 2019 In 1903, Tarkington fell desperately ill with typhoid fever. — Robert Gottlieb, The New Yorker, "The Rise and Fall of Booth Tarkington," 4 Nov. 2019 This scenic style emerged in the early 19th century, when overcrowding in small urban burial grounds was linked to outbreaks of diseases including typhoid fever and cholera. — National Geographic, "Garden cemeteries were among America’s first urban parks," 15 Oct. 2019 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Edith Mae Irby was about 7 years old in the early 1930s when her older siblings contracted typhoid fever in their little house in Conway, Ark. — Richard Sandomir, New York Times, "Edith Irby Jones, Barrier-Breaking Doctor in the South, Dies at 91," 23 July 2019 Of their anger and shame about the rats and typhoid fever likely from those encampments that have now scratched their way into a downtown police station, our own postcard-perfect City Hall and even our international reputation. — Nita Lelyveld, latimes.com, "Homelessness crisis makes us ashamed and angry — at our leaders, and ourselves," 6 June 2019 When 44 French Canadian children died in Brunswick, Maine, during a six-month period in 1886, most from typhoid fever and diphtheria, local newspaper editor Albert G. Tenney investigated. — David Vernette, Smithsonian, "When an Influx of French-Canadian Immigrants Struck Fear Into Americans," 21 Aug. 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about typhoid fever

Dictionary Entries near typhoid fever

Statistics for typhoid fever

Last Updated

16 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Typhoid fever.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/typhoid%20fever. Accessed 20 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

dauntless

not to be intimidated or subdued

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.