pneumonia
noun
pneu·mo·nia
nu̇-ˈmō-nyə 
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
An autopsy revealed that Carson had died from pneumonia.
—
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
When Pope Francis was hospitalized with pneumonia earlier this year, Ham would stop outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to recite the rosary for the pontiff, who died the day after Easter.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Although most bacterial strains are harmless, some strains can make people sick and cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness or pneumonia, the CDC reports.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 May 2025
The virus then leaves your body exposed to even minor illnesses, leading to causes of death from things like pneumonia or bronchitis.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pneumonia
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Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
When Pope Francis was hospitalized with pneumonia earlier this year, Ham would stop outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to recite the rosary for the pontiff, who died the day after Easter.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Although most bacterial strains are harmless, some strains can make people sick and cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness or pneumonia, the CDC reports.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 May 2025
The virus then leaves your body exposed to even minor illnesses, leading to causes of death from things like pneumonia or bronchitis.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pneumonia
Cite this Entry
“Pneumonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumonia. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pneumonia
noun
pneu·mo·nia
n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə
: 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
: 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
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