pneumonia
noun
pneu·mo·nia
nu̇-ˈmō-nyə 
nyu̇-
: an acute disease that is marked by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and often bronchioles with white blood cells (such as neutrophils) and fibrinous exudate, is characterized by fever, chills, cough, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and reduced lung expansion, and is typically caused by an infectious agent (such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus) see bronchopneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia compare pneumonitis
Examples of pneumonia in a Sentence
He caught pneumonia over the winter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Fractured ribs also raise the risk of pneumonia, especially among older adults.15
There's no specific treatment for fractured ribs.
—
Amanda Gardner, Health, 1 June 2024
Scaggs Huang said some people can fracture their ribs because of coughing episodes or developing pneumonia.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 May 2024
However, in November 2018, Porter died suddenly from lobar pneumonia.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 30 May 2024
Deep in the Amazon, one in three measles patients developed life-threatening pneumonia; in parts of southwestern Nigeria, one in four died.
—History / Elena Conis, TIME, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for pneumonia 
Amanda Gardner, Health, 1 June 2024
Scaggs Huang said some people can fracture their ribs because of coughing episodes or developing pneumonia.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 May 2024
However, in November 2018, Porter died suddenly from lobar pneumonia.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 30 May 2024
Deep in the Amazon, one in three measles patients developed life-threatening pneumonia; in parts of southwestern Nigeria, one in four died.
—History / Elena Conis, TIME, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for pneumonia
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pneumonia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pneumonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumonia. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pneumonia
noun
pneu·mo·nia
n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə
: a disease of the lungs marked by inflammation, congestion, fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing and caused especially by infection
Medical Definition
pneumonia
noun
pneu·mo·nia
n(y)u̇-ˈmō-nyə
: an acute disease that is marked by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and often bronchioles with white blood cells (as neutrophils) and fibrinous exudate, is characterized by fever, chills, cough, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and reduced lung expansion, and is typically caused by an infectious agent (as a bacterium, virus, or fungus) see bronchopneumonia, lobar pneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia
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