cholera

noun

chol·​era ˈkä-lə-rə How to pronounce cholera (audio)
: any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms
especially : an acute diarrheal disease caused by an enterotoxin produced by a comma-shaped gram-negative bacillus (Vibrio cholerae synonym V. comma) when it is present in large numbers in the proximal (see proximal sense 2) part of the human small intestine

Examples of cholera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web More soldiers were dying of cholera and other infectious diseases than of battle wounds. Melissa Pritchard, Discover Magazine, 24 May 2024 Their island idyll is cut short by tragedy, which coincides with a cholera outbreak in the city. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024 Twenty-five years ago, as a young public health official, Dr. Sovann responded to a rural cholera outbreak. Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024 This week, Maryland U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin introduced a bipartisan resolution calling for continued support for the public-private partnership known as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the purchase of vaccines for such diseases as measles, cholera and yellow fever. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024 The mission was controversial, blamed for starting a cholera epidemic and rights abuses of its own. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2024 Jaime Neto, secretary of state for Nampula province, also said that the passengers were fleeing cholera, according to the BBC. Reuters, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024 Medical supplies to deal with cholera can’t be distributed, leading to fears of a wide outbreak, the U.N. recently said. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024 Due to the very low incidence and prevalence of cholera in the United States, cholera is an orphan indication in this country. Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cholera.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cholera was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near cholera

Cite this Entry

“Cholera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cholera. Accessed 28 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

cholera

noun
chol·​era ˈkäl-ə-rə How to pronounce cholera (audio)
: any of several diseases usually marked by severe vomiting and diarrhea

Medical Definition

cholera

noun
chol·​era ˈkäl-ə-rə How to pronounce cholera (audio)
: any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms: as
a
: an acute diarrheal disease caused by an enterotoxin produced by various strains of a comma-shaped gram-negative bacterium of the genus Vibrio (V. cholerae synonym V. comma) when it is present in large numbers in the proximal part of the human small intestine see asiatic cholera
choleraic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cholera

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