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

Texas reported more cases of whooping cough last year than anytime in the last 66 years, according to provisional data from the state health department. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026

After whooping cough vaccinations declined in Dallas County over the last year, the preventable disease spiked to the highest numbers of infections officials have seen in over a decade, Huang said. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026

At the same time, rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, are rising across the country. —Matt Brown, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026

Cases of tetanus, whooping cough, and hepatitis A have also risen in recent years. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 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