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

This drop will increase the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps and whooping cough, which have reemerged in areas with declining vaccination rates. —A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026

At the same time, rates of , such as measles, whooping cough and other diseases that can be protected against with vaccines are rising across the country. —Ammy Galeano, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

Two children have died in my state from whooping cough. —Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

The changes affect vaccines for illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, RSV and hepatitis, though routine shots for diseases such as measles, polio and whooping cough remain the same. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 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