whooping cough

noun

whoop·ing cough | \ ˈhü-piŋ-

, ˈhu̇- \

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

Examples of whooping cough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The rates were below 90% for the combined whooping cough shot in eight states plus Washington, D.C., and in seven states plus Washington, D.C., for measles shots. — Lindsey Tanner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2022 But research on whooping cough became their obsession. — Richard Conniff, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2022 Tdap, recommended during each pregnancy, is primarily aimed at creating immunity to pertussis, or whooping cough, in infants too young to be vaccinated. — NBC News, 16 Feb. 2022 That was the case when a whooping cough, or pertussis, vaccine was introduced in the early 1950s. — Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2021 Other shots, including vaccines for flu and whooping cough, given in pregnancy are known to protect mothers and infants. — Lindsey Tanner, ajc, 15 Feb. 2022 Vaccines for other illnesses have similarly been shown to safely cross the placenta and give newborns protection, including the shots for flu and whooping cough. — NBC News, 15 Feb. 2022 Schoolchildren already must be vaccinated for polio, chickenpox, rubella, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2022 From 2019 to 2021, child vaccination rates for 16 diseases including polio, chickenpox, flu, tetanus, measles, mumps, hepatitis and whooping cough have gone down by a total of 26% statewide. — al, 20 Dec. 2021 See More

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.

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Statistics for whooping cough

Last Updated

26 Apr 2022

Cite this Entry

“Whooping cough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whooping%20cough. Accessed 16 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for whooping cough

whooping cough

noun

Kids Definition of whooping cough

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

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