dysentery

noun

dys·​en·​tery ˈdi-sᵊn-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

plural dysenteries

1

: a disease characterized by severe diarrhea with passage of mucus and blood and usually caused by infection

2

: diarrhea

Examples of dysentery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Flies do spread germs that cause diseases like dysentery, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, food poisoning, and cholera.1 Because of this, discard any food flies have come in contact with. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026

These conditions fostered infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, smallpox and dysentery. —Anita Moncrease, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026

His digestive system was wrecked by recurring dysentery and colic, and the calomel prescribed by his doctors only made things worse. —Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

On the home front, several generations have grown up on an American mainland without malaria, yellow fever, or typhoid fever; diseases like dysentery are medical rarities. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dissenterie, borrowed from Latin dysenteria (Medieval Latin desintiria, dissenteria), borrowed from Greek dysentería, from dys- dys- + éntera (neuter plural) "intestines" + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at inter-

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dysentery

• amebic dysentery

Rhymes for dysentery

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

dysentery

noun

dys·​en·​tery ˈdis-ən-ˌter-ē 

1

: a disease characterized by severe diarrhea with passage of mucus and blood from the bowels

2

: diarrhea

Medical Definition

dysentery

noun

dys·​en·​tery ˈdis-ᵊn-ˌter-ē 

plural dysenteries

1

: a disease characterized by severe diarrhea with passage of mucus and blood and usually caused by infection

2

: diarrhea