shigellosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “shigellosis” mean?
An infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, resulting in severe diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, resulting in severe diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps.
A bacterial dysentery primarily spread through contaminated food, water, or poor hygiene, often causing inflammation of the intestines. In medical contexts, it may be classified by the specific serogroup (e.g., S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. sonnei).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The public health reporting criteria or common serotypes may vary by region.
Connotations
Purely clinical and epidemiological in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to medical professionals, microbiologists, and public health reports.
Grammar
How to Use “shigellosis” in a Sentence
[Patient] contracted shigellosis.[Location] experienced a shigellosis outbreak.Shigellosis is caused by [Shigella bacterium].The symptoms of shigellosis include [symptoms].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shigellosis” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The shigellosis outbreak was quickly contained.
- Shigellosis symptoms can be debilitating.
American English
- The shigellosis outbreak was contained rapidly.
- Shigellosis symptoms can be severe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Possibly in travel insurance or occupational health contexts for outbreaks affecting staff.
Academic
Used in medical, microbiology, and public health research papers, textbooks, and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A doctor might explain, 'You have a Shigella infection, a type of dysentery.'
Technical
The primary register. Used in clinical diagnoses, laboratory reports, epidemiological bulletins, and WHO/CDC communications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shigellosis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shigellosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shigellosis”
- Misspelling: 'shigelosis', 'shigellosus'.
- Mispronunciation: /ʃaɪˈɡɛləʊsɪs/ (with a 'sky' sound).
- Using as a synonym for any diarrhoea.
- Incorrect: 'He has a shigellosis.' (Article not typically used with the disease name in this way.) Correct: 'He has shigellosis.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a specific type of severe bacterial foodborne illness, but not all food poisoning is shigellosis.
Yes, it is typically treated with antibiotics and supportive care like rehydration, though antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.
Young children, travellers to areas with poor sanitation, and individuals in crowded settings like daycare centres or refugee camps are at highest risk.
In British English: /ˌʃɪɡəˈləʊsɪs/ (shig-uh-LOH-sis). In American English: /ˌʃɪɡəˈloʊsɪs/ (shig-uh-LOH-sis). The stress is on the third syllable.
An infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, resulting in severe diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps.
Shigellosis is usually technical/medical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SHI-GEL' sounds like 'she fell' ill with severe gastro-enteritis from LOSS of fluids → SHIGELLOSIS.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADER / DISEASE IS A BURDEN.
Practice
Quiz
Shigellosis is primarily transmitted through: