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

By 1984, only one company was left producing the whooping cough vaccine in the United States and had raised its price tenfold. — Joel Dodge, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026

In California, the law requires all children without medical exemptions to be vaccinated for several diseases — including polio, measles, mumps, chickenpox, hepatitis B and whooping cough — before they’re admitted to school. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Nationwide, the share of kids with any exemption has risen for four consecutive years, while vaccination rates fell for the shots for measles, mumps and rubella; polio; tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and diphtheria; and chickenpox. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2026

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools families were notified of potential exposure to tuberculosis and whooping cough at two middle schools, officials confirmed Thursday. — Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 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