phlegm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Medical
Quick answer
What does “phlegm” mean?
The thick, sticky mucus secreted in the respiratory passages, especially when produced in excessive amounts during a cold or other respiratory illness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The thick, sticky mucus secreted in the respiratory passages, especially when produced in excessive amounts during a cold or other respiratory illness.
1. A state of calmness, composure, or unemotional behavior (from the historical concept of phlegm as one of the four bodily humors). 2. Sluggishness or apathy, often perceived as a character trait.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Mucus' is a more common general synonym in both, but 'phlegm' is the standard specific term for respiratory mucus. The pronunciation of the 'ph' and final 'm' differs slightly.
Connotations
Both share the primary medical connotation. The historical/literary connotation of calmness is equally archaic in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK medical/health contexts due to common public health messaging (e.g., 'coughing up phlegm'), but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “phlegm” in a Sentence
cough up ~have ~ in one's chest~ productionbe congested with ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “phlegm” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard. The verb form is not used.)
American English
- (Not standard. The verb form is not used.)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard. The adverbial form 'phlegmatically' exists but is very rare.)
American English
- (Not standard. The adverbial form 'phlegmatically' exists but is very rare.)
adjective
British English
- His phlegmatic response to the crisis was admirable.
- She has a phlegmatic temperament, rarely showing excitement.
American English
- The phlegmatic investor didn't panic during the market dip.
- His phlegmatic nature makes him a good negotiator.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and health science contexts.
Everyday
Used in health discussions (e.g., describing cold/flu symptoms).
Technical
Standard term in medicine, nursing, and pathology for respiratory tract secretions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “phlegm”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “phlegm”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “phlegm”
- Misspelling as 'flem'.
- Pronouncing the 'g' (it is silent).
- Using it as a general synonym for any mucus (it is specifically respiratory).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the 'g' is silent. It is pronounced 'flem'.
'Mucus' is the general term for the slimy secretion produced by mucous membranes. 'Phlegm' is a type of mucus, specifically the kind produced in the respiratory system (lungs, throat, sinuses), especially when one is ill.
Not directly. The noun 'phlegm' itself is rarely used this way in modern English. However, the adjective 'phlegmatic' is used to describe a person who is calm, unemotional, and sometimes slow to react.
The word comes from Greek 'phlegma' (meaning inflammation, heat), via Latin and Old French. The 'ph' represents the Greek letter phi (φ), typically making an /f/ sound in English words of Greek origin.
The thick, sticky mucus secreted in the respiratory passages, especially when produced in excessive amounts during a cold or other respiratory illness.
Phlegm is usually formal/medical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To keep one's phlegm (archaic, meaning to stay calm).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PHLEGM' sounds like 'FLEM' from a 'FLu EMergency' - the gunk you get when you're ill.
Conceptual Metaphor
BODILY FLUID IS AN OBSTACLE/IMPRISONING SUBSTANCE ('The infection filled his lungs with phlegm.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate synonym for 'phlegm' in a medical context?