sore throat

American  

noun

Pathology.

sore throats plural

1. a painful or sensitive condition of the throat exaggerated by swallowing or talking, usually caused by bacteria or viruses; laryngitis; pharyngitis; tonsillitis.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sore throats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sore throat

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sore throat

The third day of the fire, he woke up with a runny nose, sore throat and chapped lips, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

A few weeks ago, my Oura flagged “major signs of strain”—24 hours before I felt a sore throat and a stuffy nose.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

My sore throat was gone, but speaking for more than 10 seconds made me lightheaded, as if I were trying to blow up a balloon simply by talking.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

Initial symptoms may include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2026

Millions of fans diligently followed their crews’ progress throughout the training and racing seasons, particularly in the East, where something as minor as a coxswain’s sore throat could make headlines.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown