Noun: diphtheria dip'theer-ee-u or dif'theer-ee-u
- Acute contagious infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by false membrane formation in the throat and other air passages causing breathing difficulty
"Diphtheria cases have decreased dramatically since widespread vaccination began"
Derived forms: diphtherias
Type of: contagion, contagious disease
Encyclopedia: Diphtheria