anthrax: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowScientific, Medical, Media
Quick answer
What does “anthrax” mean?
A highly infectious and often fatal disease of animals, especially cattle and sheep, that can be transmitted to humans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A highly infectious and often fatal disease of animals, especially cattle and sheep, that can be transmitted to humans.
Can refer to the bacterium Bacillus anthracis itself, and in a modern context, is strongly associated with bioterrorism due to its use as a biological weapon.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronounciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Identical high-threat, dangerous connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, spiking in media usage during relevant news cycles.
Grammar
How to Use “anthrax” in a Sentence
contract anthraxdiagnose anthraxtreat anthraxspread anthraxweaponize anthraxVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anthrax” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The anthrax vaccine programme was accelerated.
- An anthrax spore detection system was installed.
American English
- The anthrax vaccine program was accelerated.
- An anthrax spore detection system was installed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals (vaccine production), or security consulting.
Academic
Common in medical, veterinary, microbiology, and public health literature.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in news reports or discussions about bioterrorism and historical disease outbreaks.
Technical
Precise term in medicine, veterinary science, and microbiology for the disease and its causative agent.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anthrax”
- Misspelling as 'anthrx' or 'anthax'.
- Using as a general term for any serious disease.
- Incorrect plural: 'anthrax' is uncountable; one says 'cases of anthrax', not 'anthraxs' or 'anthraces' in everyday language.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, humans can contract anthrax through contact with infected animals or their products, or through exposure to intentionally released spores.
No, inhalation, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous anthrax are not generally considered contagious from person to person in the same way as a cold or flu.
'Cutaneous' refers to the skin. Cutaneous anthrax infects through a cut or abrasion on the skin and is the most common form.
Anthrax spores are highly resilient, can be easily disseminated, and cause high mortality, especially in the inhalation form, making them a potent agent for bioterrorism.
A highly infectious and often fatal disease of animals, especially cattle and sheep, that can be transmitted to humans.
Anthrax is usually scientific, medical, media in register.
Anthrax: in British English it is pronounced /ˈænθræks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænθræks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANTHRAX' sounds like 'ANTI-RAX' – you are 'against' this terrible 'rax' (disease).
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A CONTAMINANT / FEAR IS A PLAGUE (e.g., 'an anthrax of fear spread through the city').
Practice
Quiz
Anthrax is primarily a disease of which group?