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
The Tdap vaccine also provides protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
—
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Dec. 2025
The combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the DTP vaccine, emerged in 1948, and the Salk polio vaccine arrived in 1955, but recommendations for when and how to give them varied by state, by physician and even by neighborhood.
—Jake Scott, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
The combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the DTP vaccine, emerged in 1948, and the Salk polio vaccine arrived in 1955, but recommendations for when and how to give them varied by state, by physician and even by neighborhood.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get four doses of the DTaP vaccine — which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis — before kindergarten.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diphtheria
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Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Dec. 2025
The combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the DTP vaccine, emerged in 1948, and the Salk polio vaccine arrived in 1955, but recommendations for when and how to give them varied by state, by physician and even by neighborhood.
—Jake Scott, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
The combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the DTP vaccine, emerged in 1948, and the Salk polio vaccine arrived in 1955, but recommendations for when and how to give them varied by state, by physician and even by neighborhood.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get four doses of the DTaP vaccine — which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis — before kindergarten.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 17 Dec. 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 2 Jan. 2026.
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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