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

Already, the population faced immiseration and the ravages of diseases like influenza and whooping cough. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025

Other vaccine-preventable diseases were on the rise in Arizona and elsewhere, too, among them whooping cough, also known as pertussis. —Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025

The immunizations in question are for school-aged children, protecting against infections and diseases like tetanus, polio, measles and whooping cough. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025

Lower vaccination rates have already caused historic outbreaks of measles and whooping cough this year. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 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