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

Other vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough and chicken pox will also surge. —Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 28 Jan. 2026

Rates of illnesses like measles, whooping cough, and the flu have been rising recently, and health officials say declining vaccination rates are one reason why. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 23 Jan. 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. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

Declining vaccination rates have led to a surge of once-dormant diseases, including whooping cough and measles. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 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