scarlet fever

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a contagious febrile disease caused by streptococci and characterized by a scarlet eruption.

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scarlet fever British  

noun

1. Technical name: scarlatina.  an acute communicable disease characterized by fever, strawberry-coloured tongue, and a typical rash starting on the neck and chest and spreading to the abdomen and limbs, caused by all group A haemolytic Streptococcus bacteria

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scarlet fever Scientific  

/ skär′lĭt /

1. A severe acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, occurring mainly in children, and marked by high fever, sore throat and a red skin rash.

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scarlet fever Cultural  

1. An acute and contagious disease caused by a kind of streptococcus. Characterized by fever, sore throat, and a bright red rash, scarlet fever can be treated with penicillin.

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Etymology

Origin of scarlet fever

First recorded in 1670–80

Compare meaning

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

• scarlet fever vs. roseola

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scarlet fever

Even when Beth dies from the after-effects of scarlet fever, the March sisters aren’t shattered but brought closer together.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025

Italian prisoner Primo Levi was lying in a camp hospital with scarlet fever when the Soviet liberators arrived.

From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2025

And then she had to sacrifice herself to scarlet fever because she wore the red gown.

From Salon ● Nov. 20, 2024

When William gets scarlet fever, the Velveteen Rabbit is banished and William fears he will never see his friend again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2023

At home the next day, Charles focused on getting all the children who were well enough—that is, all but Etty—out of Down and away from the scarlet fever.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman