meningococcus

American  

[muh-ning-goh-kok-uhs] / məˌnɪŋ goʊˈkɒk əs /

noun

PLURAL

meningococci

1. a reniform or spherical bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, that causes cerebrospinal meningitis.

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meningococcus British  

/ mɛˌnɪŋɡəʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. the bacterium that causes cerebrospinal meningitis

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Other Word Forms

• meningococcal adjective
• meningococcic adjective

Etymology

Origin of meningococcus

From New Latin, dating back to 1890–95; meninges, -o-, coccus

Example Sentences

IHEs have long required vaccinations of students—for human papillomavirus, meningococcus and influenza, for example.

From Scientific American

More recently, reverse vaccinology led to a vaccine against meningococcus B6.

From Nature

Many of the cases carry the same strain of meningococcus bacteria, known as serotype C, and have been linked through social connections, according to the health department.

From Los Angeles Times

The man who catches a meningococcus is in considerably less danger for his life, even without chemotherapy, than meningococci with the bad luck to catch a man.

From Literature

Officials are unsure why the outbreak is disproportionately affecting gay men, but the cases are believed to be connected because patients were infected with the same strain of meningococcus bacteria, known as serotype C. 

From Los Angeles Times