conjunctivitis

American  

[kuhn-juhngk-tuh-vahy-tis] / kənˌdʒʌŋk təˈvaɪ tɪs /

noun

Ophthalmology.

1. inflammation of the conjunctiva.

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conjunctivitis British  

/ kənˌdʒʌŋktɪˈvaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the conjunctiva

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conjunctivitis Scientific  

/ kən-jŭngk′tə-vī′tĭs /

1. Inflammation of the conjunctiva, characterized by redness, itching, and often accompanied by a discharge. Bacterial and viral infection and allergies are common causes of conjunctivitis.

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conjunctivitis Cultural  

1. Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the front part of the eyeball. Often called pinkeye.

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Etymology

Origin of conjunctivitis

First recorded in 1825–35; conjunctiv(a) + -itis

Example Sentences

Symptoms in humans mimic a severe flu: high fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and, at times, conjunctivitis.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Apart from being potentially fatal, chlamydia - which is transmitted by close contact or mating - can also cause painful urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis, blindness and infertility in koalas.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025

In one case, a worker who wasn’t employed on a farm but transported unpasteurized milk between farms reported conjunctivitis.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2025

Her symptoms began with double conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, and turned into a fever and coughing.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2025

The worst case of conjunctivitis I’ve ever seen in my life and something else in there I can’t make out.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt