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
Examples of diphtheria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Twain’s only son died of diphtheria at 18 months, and Twain unfairly blamed himself.
—
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
The school requires students in seventh grade and above to get their Tdap booster, which provides elevated immunity against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adults should get vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus at least every 10 years, and this includes protection against pertussis if the DTaP or Tdap vaccine is given.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2025
Historically, the teams of dogs and mushers run from Anchorage to Nome to commemorate the route traveled by 20 dogsled teams in 1925 to deliver medicine amid a diphtheria epidemic.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Mar. 2025
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Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
The school requires students in seventh grade and above to get their Tdap booster, which provides elevated immunity against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adults should get vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus at least every 10 years, and this includes protection against pertussis if the DTaP or Tdap vaccine is given.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2025
Historically, the teams of dogs and mushers run from Anchorage to Nome to commemorate the route traveled by 20 dogsled teams in 1925 to deliver medicine amid a diphtheria epidemic.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diphtheria
Cite this Entry
“Diphtheria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diphtheria. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
dip-
: a contagious bacterial disease with fever in which the air passages become coated with a membranous layer that often obstructs breathing
Medical Definition
diphtheria
noun
diph·the·ria
dif-ˈthir-ē-ə
dip-
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
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