sepsis

American  

[sep-sis] / ˈsɛp sɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. local or generalized invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins.

   dental sepsis; wound sepsis.

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sepsis British  

/ ˈsɛpsɪs /

noun

1. the presence of pus-forming bacteria in the body

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sepsis Scientific  

/ sĕp′sĭs /

1. A severe infection caused by pathogenic organisms, especially bacteria, in the blood or tissues. If untreated, a localized infection, as in the respiratory or urinary tracts, can lead to infection in the bloodstream and widespread inflammation, characterized initially by fever, chills, and other symptoms and later by septic shock.

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Etymology

Origin of sepsis

First recorded in 1855–60; from Greek sêpsis “decay”; compare sḗpein “to make rotten”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sepsis

I tell them, “Because your child doesn’t have vaccines, I have to be more worried about conditions like sepsis or meningitis, so therefore I need to do more workup.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Tracy said Harris had known her mother had been in a fragile state, having recently been in Morriston hospital for seven weeks with sepsis.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Palantir tapped AI to lower early death rates from sepsis at Tampa General Hospital by more than two-thirds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

Chase died following complications from meningitis and a blood infection that led to sepsis, her boyfriend told TMZ, which first reported the news.

From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026

“No buts. It has to be done. We are risking sepsis here. If this gets any worse, the infection can get into your bloodstream.”

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott