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

I was told it had healed diabetes sores, infertility, a frozen shoulder, and the common cold.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

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

From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2026

“Inhaling pollution or cigarette smoke really changes the immune response to the next thing you’re exposed to, like a common cold virus, and that usually means a more detrimental inflammatory response,” she said.

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

As we all know from experience, there are some illnesses, such as flu and the common cold, to which our resistance is only temporary; we can eventually contract the illness again.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond