Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

whooping cough

noun whoop·ing cough \ ˈhü-piŋ- , ˈhu̇- \
|Updated on: 29 Jun 2018

Definition of whooping cough

: 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

See whooping cough defined for English-language learners

See whooping cough defined for kids

Recent Examples of whooping cough from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whooping cough.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of whooping cough

circa 1670

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

WHOOPING COUGH Defined for English Language Learners

whooping cough

noun

Definition of whooping cough for English Language Learners

  • medical : a disease that usually affects children and that causes severe coughing and difficult breathing

WHOOPING COUGH Defined for Kids

whooping cough

noun

Definition of whooping cough for Students

: a bacterial disease especially of children in which severe attacks of coughing are often followed by a high-pitched gasping intake of breath

Medical Dictionary

whooping cough

noun

medical Definition of whooping cough

: 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

Learn More about whooping cough

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of whooping cough Nglish: Translation of whooping cough for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whooping cough

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up whooping cough? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

cerulean

play

resembling the blue of the sky

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. mistrial 'a trial that terminates without a verdict'

  2. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  3. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  4. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  5. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

whooping cough

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games