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

Louisiana is experiencing its worst whooping cough outbreak in 35 years. —Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Before the first pertussis vaccine became available in the early 1900s, whooping cough was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood death in the United States. —Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

According to provisional data, Texas has had over 3,500 cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, through October 2025. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Experts have said that the increase in whooping cough cases has coincided with a decline in vaccination rates, per The Texas Tribune. —Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 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