meningitis

American  

[men-in-jahy-tis] / ˌmɛn ɪnˈdʒaɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.

meningitides plural

1. inflammation of the meninges, especially of the pia mater and arachnoid, caused by a bacterial or viral infection and characterized by high fever, severe headache, and stiff neck or back muscles.

---

meningitis British  

/ ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒɪtɪk, ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain or spinal cord, caused by infection

---

meningitis Scientific  

/ mĕn′ĭn-jī′tĭs /

1. Inflammation of the meninges of the brain and the spinal cord, usually resulting from a bacterial or viral infection and often characterized by fever, vomiting, an intense headache, and a stiff neck.

---

meningitis Cultural  

1. Inflammation of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord, most often resulting from a bacterial or viral infection.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• meningitic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• meningitides
  plural

Etymology

Origin of meningitis

From New Latin, dating back to 1820–30; see origin at meninges, -itis

Explanation

Meningitis is an illness that causes the area around the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. The symptoms of meningitis include fever and headache, along with neck stiffness. Meningitis is often serious because of how close the inflammation is to a patient's brain. The most common type of meningitis is caused by a virus, and others are caused by bacteria — several types can be prevented with immunizations. The word meningitis means "inflammation of the meninges," or the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, from a Greek root meaning "membrane."

Example Sentences

Esme Lee, from charity Meningitis Now, said Noa-Rose was "extremely unfortunate", describing it as a "very, very rare" situation - cases have dropped by 75% in infants vaccinated since 2015.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Meningitis B vaccinations will be extended to Year 11 pupils at schools where older students have already received them, UK health chiefs have said.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Meningitis is a potentially deadly infection causing the inflammation of the brain or spinal cord linings, which can lead to sepsis.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

More than two million people get meningitis worldwide each year, according to a tracker by the Meningitis Research Foundation -- 80 percent of them in developing countries.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Meningitis, nervous and joint complications are among the rarer sequels.

From The Home Medical Library, Volume I (of VI) by Winslow, Kenelm