common cold

American  

noun

common colds plural

1. cold.

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common cold British  

noun

1. a mild viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, nasal congestion, sore throat, etc

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common cold Scientific  

/ kŏm′ən /

1. A respiratory infection caused by any of several viruses, such as adenovirus or rhinovirus, in which the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and throat become inflamed. Common-cold symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, sneezing, and coughing.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• common colds
  plural

Etymology

Origin of common cold

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common cold

Endemicity is when an infection is constantly present, like the common cold.

From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2026

A new study helps explain why you get sick from a common cold virus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026

During the appointment, he told her that just getting a common cold could kill her, she said.

From BBC ● Jan. 10, 2026

Growing seasonal concern about overlapping respiratory illnesses such as the common cold and influenza has increased interest in ways to support immune health.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025

Imagine someone sneezing in a crowded elevator, releasing into the air ten variants of a rhinovirus, the kind of virus that causes the common cold.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann