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

That same gap persist with other vaccine-preventable diseases, too, like whooping cough and polio. —Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025

More than 20,000 whooping cough cases have been reported so far in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 28 Nov. 2025

Though whooping cough vaccinations are required for Kentucky schools, only 86% of kindergartners and 85% of seventh graders are up to date with their immunization, data from the 2024-25 school immunization survey indicate. —Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025

In late 2024, cases of whooping cough in Louisiana began to climb, eventually growing to 387 cases, the worst outbreak of whooping cough in the state in 35 years. —Rosemary Westwood, NPR, 25 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