foot-and-mouth disease

American  

[foot-n-mauth] / ˈfʊt nˈmaʊθ /

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

1. an acute, contagious, febrile disease of cattle, hogs, sheep, and other hoofed animals, caused by any of various rhinoviruses and characterized by vesicular eruptions in the mouth and about the hoofs, teats, and udder.

---

foot-and-mouth disease British  

noun

1. Technical name: contagious stomatitis. Also called: hoof-and-mouth disease, aphtha, aphthous fever. an acute highly infectious viral disease of cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, characterized by the formation of vesicular eruptions in the mouth and on the feet, esp around the hoofs

---

foot-and-mouth disease Scientific  

1. A highly contagious disease of cattle and other hoofed animals caused by any of various viruses of the family Picornaviridae and the genus Aphthovirus , characterized by fever and the presence of blisters around the mouth and hooves.

---

Etymology

Origin of foot-and-mouth disease

First recorded in 1860–65

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

foot-and-mouth disease

But its endless expanses have been swept by panic since an outbreak of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, which was declared a national disaster in February.

From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026

But the 49-year-old has faced intense criticism from farmers over his failure to contain the foot-and-mouth disease, which has devastated South Africa's livestock industry.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026

Lula’s administration last month declared Brazil totally free of foot-and-mouth disease, saying it will request recognition from the World Organization for Animal Health in August.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024

Australia has introduced new biosecurity rules after an Indonesian foot-and-mouth disease outbreak spread to the tourist hub island of Bali.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 2, 2022

In foul foot or ground itch of cattle, the inflammation of the skin and toes is general and not in certain spots, as in foot-and-mouth disease.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---