plural sepses
ˈsep-ˌsēz 
: a potentially life-threatening, systemic response of the immune system that results from the spread of pathogenic agents (such as bacteria or viruses) and their toxins to the bloodstream from a localized infection (as of the lungs), that involves both inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity, that is marked especially by fever, chills, rapid heart rate and breathing, fatigue, confusion, increased blood coagulation, hypotension, impaired microcirculation, and organ dysfunction, and that may progress to septic shock
Note: The primary cause of sepsis is pneumonia with secondary causes commonly including infections of the abdominal cavity and urinary tract.
compare septicemiaExamples of sepsis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sue said the pressure ulcer was what led to the sepsis.
—
Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2025
New Jersey Congressman Donald Norcross is recovering from a gallbladder infection that led to sepsis, landing him in the ICU.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
The main threat to Francis, doctors warned, is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can arise as a complication of pneumonia.
—Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
When pneumonia leads to sepsis, widespread inflammation can hurt multiple organs, including the kidneys, Brahmbhatt added.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
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Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2025
New Jersey Congressman Donald Norcross is recovering from a gallbladder infection that led to sepsis, landing him in the ICU.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
The main threat to Francis, doctors warned, is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can arise as a complication of pneumonia.
—Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
When pneumonia leads to sepsis, widespread inflammation can hurt multiple organs, including the kidneys, Brahmbhatt added.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sepsis
Cite this Entry
“Sepsis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sepsis. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
sepsis
noun
sep·sis
ˈsep-səs
plural sepses
ˈsep-ˌsēz
: a potentially life-threatening, systemic response of the immune system that results from the spread of pathogenic agents (as bacteria or viruses) and their toxins to the bloodstream from a localized infection (as of the lungs), that involves both inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity, and that is marked especially by fever, chills, rapid heart rate and breathing, fatigue, confusion, increased blood coagulation, hypotension, impaired microcirculation, and organ dysfunction, and that may progress to septic shock
Note: The primary cause of sepsis is pneumonia with secondary causes commonly including infections of the abdominal cavity and urinary tract.
compare multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, septicemiaLove words? Need even more definitions?
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