whooping cough

noun

whoop·​ing cough ˈhü-piŋ- 

ˈhu̇-

: an infectious respiratory disease especially of children caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis) and marked by a convulsive spasmodic cough sometimes followed by a crowing intake of breath

called also pertussis

Examples of whooping cough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The scrutiny is especially troubling to many public health authorities, coming amid new outbreaks of diseases like measles and whooping cough. —NPR, 7 Nov. 2025

As of late October, the health department identified at least 15 cases of whooping cough this year, which is three times the amount the county has seen in recent years. —Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025

In addition to the chickenpox and whooping cough vaccines, Jhonde got one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine as a baby. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2025

Similarly, Rochelle sometimes took a couple days to respond when life was particularly hectic, like the week both kids had whooping cough and no one got any sleep. —Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whooping cough

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

whooping cough

noun

: a disease especially of children that is caused by a bacterium and is marked by severe attacks of coughing often followed by a high-pitched gasping intake of breath

called also pertussis

Medical Definition

whooping cough

noun

: an infectious disease especially of children caused by a bacterium of the genus Bordetella (B. pertussis) and marked by a convulsive spasmodic cough sometimes followed by a crowing intake of breath

called also pertussis