rhinorrhea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low FrequencyMedical / Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “rhinorrhea” mean?
The excessive discharge of thin, watery mucus from the nose.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The excessive discharge of thin, watery mucus from the nose; a runny nose.
In medical contexts, it specifically refers to the symptom of a continuous flow of nasal fluid, which can be caused by allergies, infections (like the common cold), or conditions like cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. It's a clinical sign, not a diagnosis itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The spelling 'rhinorrhoea' (with 'rhoea') is the standard British English variant. American English uses 'rhinorrhea' (with 'rhea').
Connotations
Identical formal, clinical connotations in both varieties. It is not used casually.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both dialects, used almost exclusively by healthcare professionals.
Grammar
How to Use “rhinorrhea” in a Sentence
The patient suffers from rhinorrhea.Rhinorrhea is a common presenting symptom.The cause of the rhinorrhea was identified.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rhinorrhea” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient is rhinorrhoeic.
- (Verb form not standard; 'have rhinorrhoea' is used.)
American English
- The condition can cause a patient to rhinorrheate. (Extremely rare/constructed)
- (Verb form not standard; 'experience rhinorrhea' is used.)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no common adverbial form.)
American English
- (Not standard; no common adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- The rhinorrhoeic discharge was clear and watery.
- She presented with rhinorrhoeic symptoms.
American English
- The rhinorrheal fluid was tested for allergens.
- He had chronic rhinorrheic issues.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Not used; considered jargon. Phrases like 'runny nose' are standard.
Technical
Core term in clinical medicine, otolaryngology, and allergology for describing symptoms and diagnoses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rhinorrhea”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rhinorrhea”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rhinorrhea”
- Misspelling: 'rhinorrea', 'rhinorhea'.
- Mispronunciation: /ˈraɪnəˌriːə/ (primary stress on first syllable) is less common; standard is /ˌraɪnəˈriːə/.
- Using it in everyday conversation where 'runny nose' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Rhinorrhea' is the formal medical term for the symptom. 'Runny nose' is the common, everyday phrase. They refer to the same condition but are used in different registers.
It is pronounced /ˌraɪnəˈriːə/. The stress is typically on the third syllable ('ri'). The beginning sounds like 'rye-no'.
Usually, it's a mild symptom of a cold or allergy. However, if it's persistent, unilateral (from one nostril only), or follows head trauma (especially if the fluid is clear and watery), it could indicate a cerebrospinal fluid leak, which is serious and requires immediate medical attention.
Yes, but the spelling differs slightly. British English spells it 'rhinorrhoea', while American English uses 'rhinorrhea'. Both are pronounced similarly.
The excessive discharge of thin, watery mucus from the nose.
Rhinorrhea is usually medical / technical / scientific in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'rhino' (like rhinoceros, suggesting the nose) and 'rrhea' (meaning flow or discharge, as in diarrhoea). So, 'nose flow'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NOSE IS A LEAKING CONTAINER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'rhinorrhea' MOST appropriately used?