sepsis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “sepsis” mean?
A life-threatening medical condition where the body's response to an infection causes damage to its own tissues and organs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A life-threatening medical condition where the body's response to an infection causes damage to its own tissues and organs.
In clinical contexts, sepsis refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) due to infection, which can progress to severe sepsis or septic shock with multi-organ dysfunction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Both varieties use the term with identical medical connotations.
Frequency
Equally common in medical literature and healthcare settings in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “sepsis” in a Sentence
develop sepsistreat for sepsisdiagnose with sepsisVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; primarily in healthcare industry or insurance contexts.
Academic
Frequently used in medical and biological research papers.
Everyday
Uncommon; typically only in discussions about health or medical emergencies.
Technical
Standard term in clinical medicine, nursing, and healthcare.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sepsis”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sepsis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sepsis”
- Using 'sepsis' to refer to any minor infection.
- Misspelling as 'septicemia' when referring to the general condition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sepsis is caused by the body's overwhelming response to an infection, which can be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic.
Diagnosis involves clinical assessment, blood tests for infection markers, and monitoring for signs of organ dysfunction.
Prevention focuses on timely treatment of infections, good hygiene, and vaccination against common pathogens.
Septicemia specifically refers to bacteria in the bloodstream, while sepsis is a broader condition involving the body's response to any infection.
A life-threatening medical condition where the body's response to an infection causes damage to its own tissues and organs.
Sepsis is usually technical/medical in register.
Sepsis: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛpsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛpsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sepsis' as related to 'septic', which means infected or contaminated, helping remember its connection to serious infection.
Conceptual Metaphor
Sepsis is often metaphorically described as a 'storm' or 'fire' in the body due to its intense inflammatory response.
Practice
Quiz
What best defines sepsis?