candidiasis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low-frequency in general discourse; Common in medical, healthcare, and patient education contexts.
UK/ˌkændɪˈdaɪəsɪs/US/ˌkændɪˈdaɪəsɪs/

Technical/Medical. Used by healthcare professionals, in medical literature, and by patients discussing diagnoses. Not typically used in casual conversation.

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Quick answer

What does “candidiasis” mean?

A fungal infection caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, especially Candida albicans, affecting the skin, mucous membranes, or, less commonly, internal organs.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A fungal infection caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, especially Candida albicans, affecting the skin, mucous membranes, or, less commonly, internal organs.

In medical contexts, the term is often extended to describe the pathological condition resulting from overgrowth of Candida species, which are normally present in small amounts in the human body. In non-medical contexts, it is sometimes used as a general descriptor for yeast-related health problems.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage between BrE and AmE. Both use 'candidiasis' as the standard term.

Connotations

Neutral, clinical term in both varieties. No regional connotations.

Frequency

Equally common in medical contexts in both regions.

Grammar

How to Use “candidiasis” in a Sentence

[Patient] has/developed/suffers from candidiasis.[Treatment] is for/used against candidiasis.Candidiasis [verb: affects/presents as/can lead to].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
oral candidiasisvaginal candidiasisinvasive candidiasischronic candidiasisrecurrent candidiasisdevelop candidiasistreat candidiasis
medium
cutaneous candidiasissystemic candidiasiscandidiasis infectiondiagnose candidiasissuffer from candidiasissymptoms of candidiasis
weak
severe candidiasismild candidiasiscomplication of candidiasisrisk of candidiasishistory of candidiasis

Examples

Examples of “candidiasis” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • candidiasis-related complications
  • a candidiasis infection

American English

  • candidiasis-associated symptoms
  • candidiasis treatment guidelines

Usage

Meaning in Context

Academic

Common in medical and biological research papers discussing fungal pathogenesis, immunology, and treatment outcomes.

Everyday

Used when discussing a specific medical diagnosis with a doctor or pharmacist. Often replaced by simpler terms like 'thrush' or 'yeast infection' in lay conversation.

Technical

The precise term used in clinical documentation, diagnosis coding (e.g., ICD-11), microbiology reports, and pharmaceutical literature.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “candidiasis”

Strong

candidosis (medical)

Neutral

yeast infectioncandidosisthrush (for specific types)

Weak

fungal overgrowthCandida overgrowth

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “candidiasis”

healthnormal floraeubiosis

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “candidiasis”

  • Misspelling as 'candidasis' or 'candidiases'.
  • Using incorrect verb agreement (it is uncountable: 'Candidiasis is...', not 'are...').
  • Confusing it with bacterial infections.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

'Thrush' is the common name for specific types of candidiasis, most notably oral or vaginal infections. 'Candidiasis' is the broader, more technical term for all infections caused by Candida species.

Yes. While skin and mucosal infections are often mild, invasive or systemic candidiasis, where the fungus enters the bloodstream, is a serious medical condition that requires immediate hospital treatment.

Generally, it is not considered highly contagious in the way a cold is. It is usually caused by an overgrowth of Candida already present in one's own body. However, in rare cases, it can be transmitted through direct contact, such as to a newborn during childbirth.

The word is typically used as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'she has candidiasis'). In highly technical contexts, the plural 'candidiases' is sometimes seen but is very rare. It is best to avoid a plural form.

A fungal infection caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, especially Candida albicans, affecting the skin, mucous membranes, or, less commonly, internal organs.

Candidiasis is usually technical/medical. used by healthcare professionals, in medical literature, and by patients discussing diagnoses. not typically used in casual conversation. in register.

Candidiasis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkændɪˈdaɪəsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkændɪˈdaɪəsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'CANDID' + 'IASIS'. A 'candid' (frank/open) 'IASIS' (condition) caused by Candida fungus.

Conceptual Metaphor

Often conceptualized as an INVASION or OVERGROWTH (e.g., 'The Candida overgrew and caused an infection').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Antibiotics can sometimes disrupt the body's natural balance, leading to an overgrowth of Candida and resulting in .
Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a typical context for the word 'candidiasis'?