pyrexia

noun

py·​rex·​ia pī-ˈrek-sē-ə How to pronounce pyrexia (audio)
: abnormal elevation of body temperature : fever
pyrexial adjective
pyrexic adjective

Examples of pyrexia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These included injection site reactions, headache, pyrexia (fever), fatigue, back pain, myalgia and rash. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 22 Dec. 2021 According to the US National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus resource, a fever (aka, pyrexia) is technically a higher-than-normal body temperature. Leah Groth, Health.com, 2 Apr. 2020 For many of these reactions, the FDA database uses medical terminology, such as pyrexia and dyspnoea for fever and labored breathing, respectively. Ajc Homepage, ajc, 24 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pyressein to be feverish, from pyretos

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyrexia was in 1777

Dictionary Entries Near pyrexia

Cite this Entry

“Pyrexia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrexia. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

pyrexia

noun
py·​rex·​ia pī-ˈrek-sē-ə How to pronounce pyrexia (audio)
: abnormal elevation of body temperature : fever

More from Merriam-Webster on pyrexia

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!