: any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms
especially
: an acute diarrheal disease caused by an enterotoxin produced by a comma-shaped gram-negative bacillus (Vibrio cholerae synonym V. comma) when it is present in large numbers in the proximal (see proximal sense 2) part of the human small intestine
Examples of cholera in a Sentence
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Or maybe something about the 1854 Broad Street cholera outbreak.
—
Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
What is significant about the seventh cholera pandemic?
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Public fear and anger over cholera, yellow fever, typhus, typhoid, smallpox, and influenza repeatedly landed on the powerless.
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
Irish fraternal organizations, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Catholic Sacred Heart Society, also contributed to community welfare in an era of high child mortality from cholera, diphtheria, measles and smallpox.
—Paula Kane, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
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Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
What is significant about the seventh cholera pandemic?
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Public fear and anger over cholera, yellow fever, typhus, typhoid, smallpox, and influenza repeatedly landed on the powerless.
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
Irish fraternal organizations, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Catholic Sacred Heart Society, also contributed to community welfare in an era of high child mortality from cholera, diphtheria, measles and smallpox.
—Paula Kane, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cholera
Cite this Entry
“Cholera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cholera. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cholera
noun
chol·era
ˈkäl-ə-rə 
: any of several diseases usually marked by severe vomiting and diarrhea
Medical Definition
cholera
noun
chol·era
ˈkäl-ə-rə
: any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms: as
a
: an acute diarrheal disease caused by an enterotoxin produced by various strains of a comma-shaped gram-negative bacterium of the genus Vibrio (V. cholerae) when it is present in large numbers in the proximal part of the human small intestine see asiatic cholera
b
c
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