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

This typically checks for a bunch of heavy hitters at once, Dr. Ross says, including, yes, BV and yeast, but also trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 27 Feb. 2025

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise in New York City, a new report reveals. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most frequently occurring forms of STIs, accounting for more than 90% of the 2022 cases, the data showed. —Tribune News Service, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2024

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

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

Rhymes for gonorrhea

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea

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