pertussis

noun

per·​tus·​sis pər-ˈtə-səs How to pronounce pertussis (audio)
: whooping cough

Examples of pertussis 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.
The country saw similar declines for vaccines that protect against polio, hepatitis B, and diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026 Vaccination rates also fell for polio, for the combination shot against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, and for the first dose of the vaccine against chickenpox. — CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Spacing out other shots for pertussis and other infectious diseases could multiply the number of visits many more times. — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 At that point, the CDC recommended children receive a vaccine against smallpox, a combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, known as the DTP vaccine, and a vaccine against polio. — Jake Scott, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pertussis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin per- thoroughly + tussis cough

First Known Use

circa 1772, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pertussis was circa 1772

Rhymes for pertussis

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Browse Nearby Words

Pertusaria
pertussis
Peru
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pertussis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pertussis. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pertussis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pertussis

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