strep
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of strep
First recorded in 1930–35; by shortening
Explanation
Strep is a bacterium that can make you sick. If your throat is really sore and you're feeling feverish, you just might have strep throat — a condition caused by the strep bacterium. Strep is short for streptococcus, and because it's a bacterium, it can usually be treated with antibiotics. As a noun, the word refers to the microorganism itself, and when strep is an adjective, it describes conditions that are caused by the bacteria, like strep throat or strep pneumonia. An Austrian doctor coined the word streptococcus in the 1870s, from strepto-, "twisted" in Latin, and cocco-, "seed."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the medical facility, she was tested for strep, COVID-19 and influenza.
From Salon ● Jan. 20, 2026
The first hospital diagnosed her with strep throat without investigating her sharp abdominal cramps.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2024
“Most people can work with strep throat but obviously not me. I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve been looking forward to this concert for so long. My deepest regrets for any inconvenience this has caused.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2024
Demand for the common antibiotic, which is used for respiratory infections, strep throat and ear infections, spiked amid fears of a “triple-demic” last year, leading to shortages.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 26, 2023
A cut or break in the skin lets staph and strep bacteria colonize the warm, wet, nutrient-rich cells inside.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
