pleurisy

American  

[ploor-uh-see] / ˈplʊər ə si /

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the pleura, with or without a liquid effusion in the pleural cavity, characterized by a dry cough and pain in the affected side.

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pleurisy British  

/ plʊˈrɪtɪk, ˈplʊərɪsɪ /

noun

1. inflammation of the pleura, characterized by pain that is aggravated by deep breathing or coughing

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pleurisy Scientific  

/ plr′ĭ-sē /

1. An inflammation of the pleura, usually occurring because of complications of a respiratory disease or condition such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleural injury, or asbestos exposure. Pleurisy is usually accompanied by the accumulation of fluid between the pleurae, chills, fever, and painful breathing and coughing.

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Other Word Forms

• pleuritic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pleurisy

1350–1400; Middle English pluresy < Old French pleurisie < Late Latin pleurīsis, alteration of Latin pleurītis < Greek pleurîtis. See pleura, -itis

Compare meaning

How does pleurisy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• pleurisy vs. pneumonia

Example Sentences

She had a broken back, typhoid fever, pneumonia and pleurisy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

The Pope is especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy - an inflammation around the lungs - as an adult and having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025

When he was 21, the then Jorge Bergoglio developed pleurisy and had part of one of his lungs removed in Argentina.

From Reuters • Jun. 7, 2023

Born in Livorno, Italy, in 1884, he survived near-fatal bouts of pleurisy and typhoid in his early teens.

From Washington Post • Dec. 29, 2022

He became ill, first with food poisoning, then with pleurisy.

From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand