pneumonia

noun

pneu·​mo·​nia nu̇-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce pneumonia (audio)
nyu̇-
: an acute disease that is marked by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and often bronchioles with white blood cells (such as neutrophils) and fibrinous exudate, is characterized by fever, chills, cough, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and reduced lung expansion, and is typically caused by an infectious agent (such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus) see bronchopneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia compare pneumonitis

Examples of pneumonia in a Sentence

He caught pneumonia over the winter.
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.
Brothers, a Wilson Central High School graduate, has been staying at the hospital around the clock while his mom is being treated for pneumonia. Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 The pneumonia wasn't going away, and then my lungs filled with blood. Tricia Despres, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024 Being physically active may lower your chance of dying from the flu or pneumonia, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Katia Hetter, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024 Whether the traditional walk will include the entire family will likely depend on the health of both King Charles, Kate Middleton, and Queen Camilla, who has also been under the weather lately with pneumonia. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pneumonia 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, from pneumōn lung, alteration of pleumōn — more at pulmonary

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pneumonia was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near pneumonia

Cite this Entry

“Pneumonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumonia. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pneumonia

noun
pneu·​mo·​nia n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce pneumonia (audio)
: a disease of the lungs marked by inflammation, congestion, fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing and caused especially by infection

Medical Definition

pneumonia

noun
pneu·​mo·​nia n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce pneumonia (audio)
: an acute disease that is marked by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and often bronchioles with white blood cells (as neutrophils) and fibrinous exudate, is characterized by fever, chills, cough, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and reduced lung expansion, and is typically caused by an infectious agent (as a bacterium, virus, or fungus) see bronchopneumonia, lobar pneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia

More from Merriam-Webster on pneumonia

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