meningococcus

[ muh-ning-goh-kok-uhs ]

noun

, plural me·nin·go·coc·ci [m, uh, -ning-goh-, kok, -sahy, -see].

1. a reniform or spherical bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, that causes cerebrospinal meningitis.

meningococcus

/ mɛˌnɪŋɡəʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. the bacterium that causes cerebrospinal meningitis

Other Words From

• me·ningo·coccal me·nin·go·coc·cic [m, uh, -ning-goh-, kok, -ik, -, kok, -sik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meningococcus¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1890–95; meninges, -o-, coccus

Example Sentences

Despite the “meningo-” prefix, meningococcus causes two distinct clinical diseases, each accounting for about half the illnesses.

From The Daily Beast

The Princeton outbreak also marks the third time meningococcus has been in the news recently.

From The Daily Beast

And it is likely that the same is true of the meningococcus currently being spread.

From The Daily Beast

Fortunately for meningococcus, we surely have the tools to prevent the next case.

From The Daily Beast

Few infectious diseases are as frightening as meningococcus.

From The Daily Beast

The meningococcus and the virus of poliomyelitis pass from the nose into the cranial cavity without local lesions in the former.

From Project Gutenberg