: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsias: such as
a
: a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash
b
c
Examples of typhus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike a 2006 study that found traces of the bacteria that cause typhus or trench fever in four individuals among a group of 35, the team found no traces of those diseases.
—
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
The study authors looked at 13 samples and found no traces of typhus, but their work does not discredit the findings of the 2006 study, the researchers noted.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The typhus theory stemmed from the discovery of body lice on the remains of Napoleon's soldiers along with the DNA of a bacterium known as Rickettsia prowazekii, which causes the disease.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
The discovery of body lice and traces of Rickettsia prowazekii, the bacterium behind typhus, on remains found in past excavations further reinforced that belief.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for typhus
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Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
The study authors looked at 13 samples and found no traces of typhus, but their work does not discredit the findings of the 2006 study, the researchers noted.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The typhus theory stemmed from the discovery of body lice on the remains of Napoleon's soldiers along with the DNA of a bacterium known as Rickettsia prowazekii, which causes the disease.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
The discovery of body lice and traces of Rickettsia prowazekii, the bacterium behind typhus, on remains found in past excavations further reinforced that belief.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for typhus
Cite this Entry
“Typhus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/typhus. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
typhus
noun
ty·phus
ˈtī-fəs 
: any of various diseases caused by bacteria that are rickettsias: as
a
: a severe disease that is marked by high fever, muscle and joint pain, cough, intense headache, and a red rash, and that is passed on especially by body lice
b
: a mild disease that is marked by fever, headache, and red rash and is passed on by fleas
Medical Definition
typhus
noun
ty·phus
ˈtī-fəs
: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsial bacteria: as
a
: a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash
called also louse-borne typhus
b
c
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