gonorrhea

noun

gon·​or·​rhea ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce gonorrhea (audio)
: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal
ˌgä-nə-ˈrē-əl How to pronounce gonorrhea (audio)
adjective

Examples of gonorrhea 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.
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 See All Example Sentences for gonorrhea

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gonorrhea was circa 1526

Rhymes for gonorrhea

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gonorrhea
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Cite this Entry

“Gonorrhea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gonorrhea. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

gonorrhea

noun
gon·​or·​rhea ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce gonorrhea (audio)
: a contagious inflammatory venereal disease of the genital and urinary organs that is caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal
-ˈrē-əl How to pronounce gonorrhea (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

gonorrhea

noun
gon·​or·​rhea
variants or chiefly British gonorrhoea
ˌgän-ə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce gonorrhea (audio)
: a contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane caused by the gonococcus

called also clap

gonorrheal adjective
or chiefly British gonorrhoeal
-ˈrē-əl How to pronounce gonorrhea (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on gonorrhea

Nglish: Translation of gonorrhea for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gonorrhea

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