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

Some examples of subunit vaccines include those that protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal infections, whooping cough, hepatitis B, tetanus and human papillomavirus (HPV). —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026

Other infectious diseases like whooping cough and mumps have also surged as vaccination rates have dropped. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026

Vaccine supporters worry both moves would further increase vaccine hesitancy and reduce vaccination rates, which are already declining, allowing resurgences of diseases like measles and whooping cough. —Rob Stein, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026

Gibson survived the 1918 influenza pandemic as well as childhood illnesses including mumps, measles and whooping cough. —Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 13 Mar. 2026

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