gonorrhoea

IPA/ˌɡɒnəˈrɪə/
IPA/ˌɡɑːnəˈriːə/

gonorrhoea — noun

1. a sexually transmitted infection, caused by bacteria, that affects the sex organ

1.nounC2
Definition

a sexually transmitted infection, caused by bacteria, that affects the sex organs and can pass between partners during unprotected sex; common signs include burning when peeing and unusual discharge.

Example

Jin was treated for gonorrhoea at the local clinic after a positive lab result.

treated for gonorrhoea — typical medical collocation

Public health nurses warned that untreated gonorrhoea can lead to long-term fertility problems.

untreated gonorrhoea — common adjectival collocation

Common collocations
  • contract gonorrhoea
  • treat gonorrhoea
  • test for gonorrhoea
  • cases of gonorrhoea
Synonyms
  • the clap

    informal slang term for the same disease; avoid in clinical or formal writing

Grammar Patterns

uncountable: gonorrhoea is/has

Usage Note

Mass noun; never pluralised. Often appears with 'cases of' when counted (e.g. 'cases of gonorrhoea rose 20%'). Spelled 'gonorrhea' in American English.

Common Mistakes

She has a gonorrhoea.
She has gonorrhoea.
uncountable; no article.
Two gonorrhoeas were reported.
Two cases of gonorrhoea were reported.
count cases, not the disease itself.

Word family

  • gonorrhoeal
    adjectiveC2

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • contract gonorrhoea
  • treat for gonorrhoea
  • test positive for gonorrhoea

Prepositions

  • for (test/treat for gonorrhoea)
  • with (infected with gonorrhoea)

Etymology

GreekLate LatinEnglish

Borrowed into English in the 16th century from Late Latin gonorrhoea, itself from Greek roots meaning 'seed' (gonos) and 'flow' (rhoia) — early physicians mistook the discharge for an involuntary loss of semen, which gave the disease its lasting name.