cryptococcus

American

[krip-tuh-kok-uhs] / ˌkrɪp təˈkɒk əs /

noun

any yeastlike fungus of the genus Cryptococcus, including C. neoformans, the causative agent of cryptococcosis.

Other Word Forms

cryptococcal

adjective

Etymology

Origin of cryptococcus

From New Latin, dating back to 1833; see origin at crypto-, -coccus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She had also had a cryptococcus infection - which is often linked to pigeon droppings - which her family believe hastened her decline and may have limited her treatment options.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

Dr Inkster led the investigation into two cases of cryptococcus in 2019, a fungal infection associated with pigeons droppings.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2024

A 10-year-old boy and a 73-year-old woman died after contracting a cryptococcus infection, linked to pigeon droppings, while being treated at the hospital.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2024

And it wasn’t cryptococcus, a fungus that infects the brains of people with weakened immune systems.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 21, 2023

While the treatment controls cryptococcus, it does not eliminate the bug completely, and patients must take fluconazole for the rest of their life.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023