common cold

American  

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of common cold

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

When rhinovirus, the most common cause of the common cold, enters the nasal passages, the cells lining the nose immediately begin working together to fight the infection.

From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026

Winter brings a surge of respiratory illnesses, including rhinoviruses, the most frequent cause of the common cold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

It could apply to a range of respiratory illnesses like influenza, RSV, covid or the common cold.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

Television is like a strain of the common cold that can spread like lightning through a population, but only causes a few sniffles and is gone in a day.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell