whooping cough

American  

[hoo-ping, hoop-ing] / ˈhu pɪŋ, ˈhʊp ɪŋ /

noun

Pathology.

1. an infectious disease of the respiratory mucous membrane, caused by Bordetella pertussis, characterized by a series of short, convulsive coughs followed by a deep inspiration accompanied by a whooping sound.

---

whooping cough British  

/ ˈhuːpɪŋ /

noun

1. Technical name: pertussis.  an acute infectious disease characterized by coughing spasms that end with a shrill crowing sound on inspiration: caused by infection with the bacillus Bordetella pertussis

---

whooping cough Scientific  

/ ho̅o̅′pĭng,hp′ĭng,wo̅o̅′pĭng,wp′ĭng /

1. An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordatella pertussis, seen most commonly in children and characterized by coughing spasms often ending in loud gasps. Vaccinations usually given during infancy confer immunity to the disease.

2. Also called pertussis

---

whooping cough Cultural  

1. An acute and infectious disease occurring mainly in children and characterized by violent coughing. Caused by a kind of bacteria, whooping cough has largely been eradicated in the United States through a program of vaccination, which is begun when infants are just three months old.

---

Etymology

Origin of whooping cough

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whooping cough

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department stocks vaccines against measles, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, and other diseases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Something similar happened in response to a whooping cough outbreak that started in 2011.

From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026

In the 1780s Thomas Jefferson was serving as a diplomat in France when the Marquis de Lafayette brought him a message of unwelcome news from Virginia: His young daughter Lucy had died of whooping cough.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

In 1962, President Kennedy signed the Vaccination Assistance Act, which ensured that all children under five, regardless of income, could receive vaccines against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.

From Salon ● Jan. 4, 2026

There was no protection from common childhood illnesses like tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, diphtheria, or whooping cough.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock