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

She said it had happened on numerous occasions but had felt it was not a "big deal" as it often only left her with a sore throat.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

As part of the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists can currently prescribe medication for a sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected bites and urinary tract infections.

From BBC ● May 29, 2026

Early symptoms resemble those of other, more common diseases: fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 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

I had gone to bed with a headache and woken up with a glossy fever fog over my brain, and a sore throat to match.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken