pinkeye

American  

[pingk-ahy] / ˈpɪŋkˌaɪ /

Or pink eye

noun

Pathology.

1. a contagious form of acute conjunctivitis occurring in humans and certain animals: so called from the color of the inflamed eye.

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pinkeye British  

/ ˈpɪŋkˌaɪ /

noun

1. Also called: acute conjunctivitis. an acute contagious inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye, characterized by redness, discharge, etc: usually caused by bacterial infection

2. Also called: infectious keratitis. a similar condition affecting the cornea of horses and cattle

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Usage

What is pinkeye? Pinkeye is the common name for conjunctivitis and occasionally used as a slang term for other things. Pinkeye is often spelled as two words: pink eye.

Etymology

Origin of pinkeye

First recorded in 1785–95; pink ¹ + eye

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pinkeye

The couple’s son got pinkeye and the flu at the same time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026

Some people may develop conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, or experience gastrointestinal issues, like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but those symptoms are rarer.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 26, 2024

It’s too early to say whether Arcturus is associated with a greater rate of pinkeye than older coronavirus variants.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2023

My own family’s tally: 13 doctors’ appointments since October, eight infected ears, two cases of strep throat, two different strains of pinkeye and one covid infection.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 22, 2023

If Henry had been suffering from poison ivy, hay fever, rheumatism, pinkeye, we would have been in luck but the only painkiller they had was Excedrin.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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