bubonic plague
noun
: plague caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and characterized especially by the formation of buboes
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Initially, researchers theorized that the individuals died of famine or disease—perhaps even the bubonic plague. 
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022 In just five years, bubonic plague killed at least 75 million people in the Middle East, northern Africa, and Europe. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 21 June 2022 When bubonic plague arrived in San Francisco in 1899, it was accompanied by an outbreak of anti-Asian bias, resistance to vaccines and outcry over virtually every precautionary measure attempted by the federal government. John Anderson, WSJ, 19 May 2022 Of course, a bubonic plague just had to break out, and pile on the despair. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 14 Feb. 2022 The bubonic plague, which wiped out up to 60 percent of the population of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa in the 14th century, was caused by the Y. pestis bacteria transmitted from rodents via fleas. The Week Staff, The Week, 26 June 2022 Historians know all about the devastation wrought by the Black Death, the bubonic plague that swept through Eurasia and killed tens of millions of people in the mid-1300s. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2022 More than seven centuries ago, a bubonic plague pandemic known as the Black Death devastated Eurasia, killing up to 60% of the population, including 50 million Europeans, between 1346 A.D. and 1353 A.D. Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 15 June 2022 In 14th-century Europe, Jews were blamed for the bubonic plague. Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2022 See More
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022 In just five years, bubonic plague killed at least 75 million people in the Middle East, northern Africa, and Europe. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 21 June 2022 When bubonic plague arrived in San Francisco in 1899, it was accompanied by an outbreak of anti-Asian bias, resistance to vaccines and outcry over virtually every precautionary measure attempted by the federal government. John Anderson, WSJ, 19 May 2022 Of course, a bubonic plague just had to break out, and pile on the despair. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 14 Feb. 2022 The bubonic plague, which wiped out up to 60 percent of the population of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa in the 14th century, was caused by the Y. pestis bacteria transmitted from rodents via fleas. The Week Staff, The Week, 26 June 2022 Historians know all about the devastation wrought by the Black Death, the bubonic plague that swept through Eurasia and killed tens of millions of people in the mid-1300s. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2022 More than seven centuries ago, a bubonic plague pandemic known as the Black Death devastated Eurasia, killing up to 60% of the population, including 50 million Europeans, between 1346 A.D. and 1353 A.D. Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 15 June 2022 In 14th-century Europe, Jews were blamed for the bubonic plague. Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1803, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
bubonic plague
noun
bu·bon·ic plague
bü-ˈbä-nik,
byü-
: a dangerous disease which is spread by rats and in which fever, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes are present
Medical Definition
bubonic plague
noun
: plague caused by a bacterium of the genus Yersinia (Y. pestis synonym Pasteurella pestis) and characterized especially by the formation of buboes compare pneumonic plague