What is the main cause of gonorrhoea?

It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

How is gonorrhoea commonly treated?

With antibiotics, though drug-resistant strains are a growing problem.

Is 'gonorrhoea' a countable or uncountable noun?

It is generally treated as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'He has gonorrhoea,' not 'He has a gonorrhoea').

What is the key difference between British and American spelling?

British English uses 'gonorrhoea' with the diphthong 'oe', while American English uses 'gonorrhea' with just 'e'.

Is “gonorrhoea” formal?

Gonorrhoea is usually technical/medical, informal (when used metaphorically) in register.

How do you pronounce “gonorrhoea”?

Gonorrhoea: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡɒn.əˈriː.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡɑː.nəˈriː.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

gonorrhoea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C2 (Very Low Frequency)

UK/ˌɡɒn.əˈriː.ə/US/ˌɡɑː.nəˈriː.ə/

Technical/Medical, Informal (when used metaphorically)

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “gonorrhoea” mean?

A sexually transmitted bacterial infection that causes discharge and painful urination.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A sexually transmitted bacterial infection that causes discharge and painful urination.

Informally, can be used as a pejorative metaphor for something corrupting, unpleasant, or worthless.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Primarily spelling: 'gonorrhoea' (UK) vs. 'gonorrhea' (US). The pronunciation of the final vowel sound differs (/iːə/ vs. /iə/).

Connotations

Identical in medical context. The metaphorical slang use is slightly more common in British English.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specific medical or highly informal contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “gonorrhoea” in a Sentence

Patient + contract/have + gonorrhoeaAntibiotics + treat + gonorrhoeaTest + confirm + gonorrhoea

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

contract gonorrhoeatreat gonorrhoeadiagnose gonorrhoeaantibiotics for gonorrhoeasymptoms of gonorrhoea

medium

a case of gonorrhoeatest for gonorrhoeacomplications of gonorrhoearesistant gonorrhoea

weak

spread gonorrhoeafear of gonorrhoeahistory of gonorrhoea

Examples

Examples of “gonorrhoea” in a Sentence

verb

British English

The patient was gonorrhoeic.
He's been diagnosed as having gonorrhoea.

American English

The patient had gonorrhea.
She tested positive for gonorrhea.

adverb

British English

Not applicable; no standard adverbial form.

American English

Not applicable; no standard adverbial form.

adjective

British English

Gonorrhoeal discharge is characteristic.
A gonorrhoeic infection.

American English

Gonorrheal discharge is characteristic.
A gonococcal infection (more precise).

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in medical, public health, and biological science literature.

Everyday

Rare, except in specific health discussions or as a strong vulgar insult/metaphor.

Technical

The primary domain. Used in clinical diagnoses, epidemiology, and microbiology.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “gonorrhoea”

Strong

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection (technical)

Neutral

the clap (slang)a sexually transmitted infection (STI)a bacterial STI

Weak

infectionSTD/STI (broader category)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “gonorrhoea”

health clean bill of healthsterility (in a medical sense)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “gonorrhoea”

Misspelling: 'gonnorhea', 'gonorhea'.
Incorrect plural: 'gonorrhoeas' (usually uncountable).
Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈɡɒn.ə.riː.ə/).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
: With antibiotics, though drug-resistant strains are a growing problem.
: It is generally treated as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'He has gonorrhoea,' not 'He has a gonorrhoea').
: British English uses 'gonorrhoea' with the diphthong 'oe', while American English uses 'gonorrhea' with just 'e'.
: A sexually transmitted bacterial infection that causes discharge and painful urination.
: Gonorrhoea is usually technical/medical, informal (when used metaphorically) in register.
: Gonorrhoea: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡɒn.əˈriː.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡɑː.nəˈriː.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[Metaphorical] That idea is pure gonorrhoea.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

GONe is the pain when you URinate, caused by an infEction you cAught (GON-UR-EA).

Conceptual Metaphor

DISEASE IS CORRUPTION/FILTH (when used metaphorically).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Increasing resistance to antibiotics is making certain strains of much harder to treat.

Multiple Choice

In which context would the word 'gonorrhoea' be LEAST appropriate?