sore throat

American  

noun

Pathology.

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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Etymology

Origin of sore throat

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

"Even a sore throat can lead to something a lot more drastic," her mum said.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

That data measures illnesses that include a fever and a cough or sore throat, which should capture the flu but may also include other pathogens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

Antibiotic use is driven largely by common colds, which produce secondary bacterial things like sore throat, earache, nasal congestion, sinusitis.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

In 2005, on the same day he finished recording “Everything In Transit,” McMahon was admitted to the hospital after complaining of a prolonged sore throat and fatigue.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

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