meningitis
noun
men·in·gi·tis ˌme-nən-ˈjī-təs 
plural meningitides ˌme-nən-ˈji-tə-ˌdēz
: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and arachnoid
specifically : a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitides, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)
Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.
meningitic
ˌme-nən-ˈji-tik
adjective 
Example Sentences
She was diagnosed with spinal meningitis.
Recent Examples on the Web In middle school, requirements can include a vaccination to protect against meningitis, and diphtheria and tetanus. 
Donna St. George, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2022 Dowse had recently fell into a coma brought on by a virulent form of meningitis. Variety, NBC News, 14 Aug. 2022 Dowse had recently fell into a coma brought on by a virulent form of meningitis. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Aug. 2022 Treatment options involved are based on the cause of meningitis. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Aug. 2022 They're known to transmit rat lungworm parasites, which can invade the human central nervous system and cause a type of meningitis. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 6 July 2022 Up to 40% of infants afflicted with Cronobacter meningitis can end up dying. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Part of his past work involved contact tracing a meningitis outbreak on an airplane. Chris Stokel-walker, Wired, 1 Dec. 2021 Barry Cadden, 54, previously of Wrentham, was sentenced Wednesday by US District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 174 months in prison on convictions stemming from the 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak. BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021 See More
Donna St. George, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2022 Dowse had recently fell into a coma brought on by a virulent form of meningitis. Variety, NBC News, 14 Aug. 2022 Dowse had recently fell into a coma brought on by a virulent form of meningitis. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Aug. 2022 Treatment options involved are based on the cause of meningitis. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Aug. 2022 They're known to transmit rat lungworm parasites, which can invade the human central nervous system and cause a type of meningitis. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 6 July 2022 Up to 40% of infants afflicted with Cronobacter meningitis can end up dying. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Part of his past work involved contact tracing a meningitis outbreak on an airplane. Chris Stokel-walker, Wired, 1 Dec. 2021 Barry Cadden, 54, previously of Wrentham, was sentenced Wednesday by US District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 174 months in prison on convictions stemming from the 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak. BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin
First Known Use
1824, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing meningitis
Medical Definition
meningitis
noun
men·in·gi·tis ˌmen-ən-ˈjīt-əs
plural meningitides -ˈjit-ə-ˌdēz
: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and the arachnoid
specifically : a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitides, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)
Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.