gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Examples of gonorrhea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The STIs chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common cause of the condition. —Patty Weasler, Rn, Bsn, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2025

Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as the early stages of syphilis, were most common in the Clinton-Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with Central Harlem-Morningside Heights in Manhattan and Williamsburg-Bushwick in Brooklyn being a hotspot for gonorrhea in particular. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

While rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia rose across the city, early stages of syphilis fell drastically. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, men had higher rates of gonorrhea and syphilis than women. —Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, morbid loss of semen, from Greek gonorrhoia, from gon- + -rrhoia -rrhea

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammatory venereal disease of the genital and urinary organs that is caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal

-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea

variants or chiefly British gonorrhoea

ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal adjective

or chiefly British gonorrhoeal

-ˈrē-əl