tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs 
tyu̇-
plural tuberculoses
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-ˌsēz
tyu̇-
: a highly variable communicable disease of humans and some other vertebrates that is caused by the tubercle bacillus and rarely in the U.S. by a related mycobacterium (Mycobacterium bovis), that affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (such as the kidney or spinal column), and that is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusions, and fibrosis
Examples of tuberculosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Without treatment, tuberculosis is often fatal, and a person with active, untreated TB can infect up to 15 others in a single year.
—
Peter Sands, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Many of these bugs – belonging to 58 genera – were also identified as the ancestors of microbes that still present a threat to us, including tapeworms, hepatitis B virus, salmonella and mycobacterium (tuberculosis).
—New Atlas, 9 July 2025
In 2012, a major new USAID program to eradicate tuberculosis improved treatment success rates by 92%.
—Butch Meily, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Who knew tuberculosis had a connection to the development of the cowboy hat or the U.S. military or women’s dress sizes?
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tuberculosis
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Peter Sands, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Many of these bugs – belonging to 58 genera – were also identified as the ancestors of microbes that still present a threat to us, including tapeworms, hepatitis B virus, salmonella and mycobacterium (tuberculosis).
—New Atlas, 9 July 2025
In 2012, a major new USAID program to eradicate tuberculosis improved treatment success rates by 92%.
—Butch Meily, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Who knew tuberculosis had a connection to the development of the cowboy hat or the U.S. military or women’s dress sizes?
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tuberculosis
Cite this Entry
“Tuberculosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuberculosis. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
: a disease of human beings and some other vertebrates caused by a bacterium and usually marked by wasting, fever, and formation of cheesy tubercles that in human beings occur mostly in the lungs
tuberculous
adjective
t(y)u̇-ˈbər-kyə-ləs
Medical Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
plural tuberculoses
-ˌsēz
: a usually chronic highly variable disease that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis) and rarely in the United States by a related mycobacterium (M. bovis), is usually communicated by inhalation of the airborne causative agent, affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (as the kidney or spinal column) from local lesions or by way of the lymph or blood vessels, and is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, inflammatory infiltrations, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusion, and fibrosis
called also TB
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share