strep

American  

[strep] / strɛp /

noun

1. streptococcus.

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adjective

1. streptococcal.

strep British  

/ strɛp /

noun

1. informal short for streptococcus

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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

At the medical facility, she was tested for strep, COVID-19 and influenza.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2026

But in a pregnant patient, abdominal pain and vomiting should not be quickly attributed to strep, physicians told ProPublica; a doctor should have also evaluated her pregnancy.

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

Currently there is no vaccine available to protect against group A strep, which can also cause rheumatic fever and scarlet fever.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2023

I told her I’d seen a doctor, and that I had strep and mono.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover