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
For example, since January, disease experts scattered throughout the agency have answered more than 1,500 calls from providers caring for patients with malaria, parasitic diseases, free-living amoebas, diphtheria, and botulism, according to numbers from the CDC.
—
Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
At the time, society considered whiskey as a suitable medicine for cancer, typhoid, and diphtheria among other illnesses.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Approximately 92% of kids are protected against infectious diseases such as measles, whooping cough and diphtheria, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Jason Kane, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
Florida’s state legislature needs to get involved to make other mandatory school vaccines optional,including those that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps and rubella.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
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Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
At the time, society considered whiskey as a suitable medicine for cancer, typhoid, and diphtheria among other illnesses.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Approximately 92% of kids are protected against infectious diseases such as measles, whooping cough and diphtheria, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Jason Kane, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
Florida’s state legislature needs to get involved to make other mandatory school vaccines optional,including those that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps and rubella.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 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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