meningococcus
noun
me·nin·go·coc·cus
mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkä-kəs 
-ˌnin-jə-
-ˌnin-jə-
plural meningococci
mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkäk-ˌsī
-ˌsē;
-ˈkä-ˌkī,
-ˌkē
-ˌnin-jə-
: the bacterium (Neisseria meningitidis) that causes cerebrospinal meningitis
Examples of meningococcus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
IHEs have long required vaccinations of students—for human papillomavirus, meningococcus and influenza, for example.
—
Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2021
Between January 2010 and June 2020, the FDA approved 21 vaccines, most commonly for influenza (5 [23.8%]) and meningococcus (5 [23.8%]).
—Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 16 Nov. 2020
Air travel is a way to spread many virulent infectious diseases, including diphtheria, hepatitis A, influenza A and B, measles, mumps, meningococcus, rubella, tuberculosis, norovirus – the list goes on.
—Keith Joiner, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2020
Many of the cases carry the same strain of meningococcus bacteria, known as serotype C, and have been linked through social connections, according to the health department.
—Soumya Karlamangla, latimes.com, 9 June 2017
The ill student’s case was for meningococcus group B, which is not the same one covered by a vaccine required for incoming students, officials said.
—George Kelly, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2017
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Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2021
Between January 2010 and June 2020, the FDA approved 21 vaccines, most commonly for influenza (5 [23.8%]) and meningococcus (5 [23.8%]).
—Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 16 Nov. 2020
Air travel is a way to spread many virulent infectious diseases, including diphtheria, hepatitis A, influenza A and B, measles, mumps, meningococcus, rubella, tuberculosis, norovirus – the list goes on.
—Keith Joiner, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2020
Many of the cases carry the same strain of meningococcus bacteria, known as serotype C, and have been linked through social connections, according to the health department.
—Soumya Karlamangla, latimes.com, 9 June 2017
The ill student’s case was for meningococcus group B, which is not the same one covered by a vaccine required for incoming students, officials said.
—George Kelly, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Meningococcus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meningococcus. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
meningococcus
noun
me·nin·go·coc·cus
mə-ˌniŋ-gə-ˈkäk-əs
-ˌnin-jə-
-ˌnin-jə-
plural meningococci
-ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī
-(ˌ)(s)ē
-(ˌ)(s)ē
: a bacterium of the genus Neisseria (N. meningitidis) that causes cerebrospinal meningitis
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