sore throat

American  

noun

Pathology.

sore throats plural

1. a painful or sensitive condition of the throat exaggerated by swallowing or talking, usually caused by bacteria or viruses; laryngitis; pharyngitis; tonsillitis.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sore throats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sore throat

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sore throat

As part of the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists can currently prescribe medication for a sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected bites and urinary tract infections.

From BBC ● May 29, 2026

My sore throat was gone, but speaking for more than 10 seconds made me lightheaded, as if I were trying to blow up a balloon simply by talking.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

Influenza can lead to complications and fatalities, especially in people 65 years and older or under 5 with fever, cough and sore throat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2026

That data measures illnesses that include a fever and a cough or sore throat, which should capture the flu but may also include other pathogens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025

I knew that Cristiana would not be out of doors, for she had taken to her bed with a sore throat.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein