pneumococcus

[noo-muh-kok-uhs, nyoo‑]

noun

plural

pneumococci 

1. a bacterium, Diplococcus pneumoniae, causing lobar pneumonia and associated with certain other diseases, as pericarditis and meningitis.

pneumococcus

/ ˌnjuːməʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. a spherical bacterium that occurs in the respiratory tract, esp the Gram-positive Diplococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia

Other Word Forms

• pneumococcal adjective
• pneumococcic adjective
• pneumococcous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumococcus¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1885–90; pneumo- , -coccus

Example Sentences

In the case of pneumococcus, for example, immunizing children indirectly protects older adults by limiting transmission.

From Seattle Times

A patient could carry the influenza virus but also test positive for a bacterium such as pneumococcus, for example.

From Seattle Times

In the early 1920s, Griffith, a medical officer at the British Ministry of Health, began to investigate a bacterium named Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus.

From Literature

Medicare Part B covers three vaccines completely: influenza, pneumococcus and, when indicated, hepatitis B.

From New York Times

Bisphosphonates lowered the risk even in people already vaccinated against seasonal flu and pneumococcus, two common causes of pneumonia.

From New York Times