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.

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

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

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

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

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