diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə 

nonstandard

dip- 

: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system

diphtherial

dif-ˈthir-ē-əl 

nonstandard dip-

adjective

diphtheritic

ˌdif-thə-ˈri-tik 

nonstandard ˌdip-

adjective

Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ninety percent of infants received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, and 85 percent completed the full three-dose series, 2025 data show. — Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

That’s the percentage of infants globally who received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine last year, according to annual WHO and UNICEF estimates. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 15 July 2026

Vaccines to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and yellow fever are being donated by the Chilean and Brazilian governments. — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 8 July 2026

The affected data include childhood immunization rates against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, hepatitis, chicken pox and flu; and rates for 13 year olds and expectant mothers. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphthera leather; from the toughness of the false membrane

First Known Use

circa 1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diphtheria

• arteria
• bacteria
• criteria
• egeria
• listeria
• wisteria
• cafeteria
• cyanobacteria
• mycobacteria

Kids Definition

diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə  dip- 

: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing

diphtheritic

ˌdif-thə-ˈrit-ik 

ˌdip-

adjective

Medical Definition

diphtheria

noun

diph·​the·​ria dif-ˈthir-ē-ə  dip- 

: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium (C. diphtheriae) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system

diphtherial

-ē-əl 

adjective