meningitis
noun
men·in·gi·tis
ˌme-nən-ˈjī-təs 
plural meningitides
ˌme-nən-ˈji-tə-ˌdēz
: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and arachnoid
specifically
: a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitides, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)
Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.
Examples of meningitis in a Sentence
She was diagnosed with spinal meningitis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Invasive infection included infants and toddlers developing pneumonia, meningitis, septic arthritis, blood infection and swelling in the throat, causing permanent disabilities and death in about 5% of cases, or around 1,000 children annually.
—
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The need for the list took on new urgency in 2012, when more than 60 people died from fungal meningitis infections contracted from a drug produced at a compounding facility and dispensed to hundreds of people.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 3 Apr. 2026
Doctors at the hospital near their home in Lowell, Indiana, ran tests that suggested Liam might have meningitis and transferred the boy about an hour north to a larger hospital in Chicago.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
In some cases, the infection can improve in a few weeks without treatment, but meningitis can lead to death.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meningitis
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Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The need for the list took on new urgency in 2012, when more than 60 people died from fungal meningitis infections contracted from a drug produced at a compounding facility and dispensed to hundreds of people.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 3 Apr. 2026
Doctors at the hospital near their home in Lowell, Indiana, ran tests that suggested Liam might have meningitis and transferred the boy about an hour north to a larger hospital in Chicago.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
In some cases, the infection can improve in a few weeks without treatment, but meningitis can lead to death.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meningitis
Cite this Entry
“Meningitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meningitis. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
meningitis
noun
men·in·gi·tis
ˌmen-ən-ˈjīt-əs
: a disease in which a membrane of the brain or spinal cord becomes inflamed
Medical Definition
meningitis
noun
men·in·gi·tis
ˌmen-ən-ˈjīt-əs
plural meningitides
-ˈjit-ə-ˌdēz
: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and the arachnoid
specifically
: a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)
Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.
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