anthrax

noun

an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (such as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (such as wool), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs
also : the bacterium causing anthrax

Examples of anthrax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Vultures also have extremely strong stomach acid, don’t get food poisoning and are able to consume and neutralize anthrax, botulism and other bacteria and toxins in carcasses that would kill other animals, removing deadly threats from the environment. Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025 That’s about how many hippos and other large animals have been killed by anthrax poisoning in the past week at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025 Dozens of hippopotamuses died as a result of anthrax poisoning at the oldest national park in Africa. Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025 The anthrax attacks left a deep mark on the American psyche, hitting at a time when the nation was already in mourning. Peter White, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anthrax

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French, originally a word applied to the dark skin lesion associated with the cutaneous form of the disease, extended in the 18th century to the disease itself (also called charbon); earlier, "dark skin lesion, carbuncle," going back to Middle French antrac, borrowed from Late Latin anthrac-, anthrax, borrowed from Greek anthrak-, ánthrax "charcoal (burning or unlit, usually in plural), coal, dark red precious stone, dark skin lesion," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: In the sense "carbuncle, purulent skin lesion (of various origins)," anthrax has been in occasional use in English since Middle English (then attested as antrax, antrace). Regarding the origin of the Greek word, cf. andráchlē "warming pan, brazier," (with -d- for -th-) and kándaros glossed ánthrax by Hesychius (k- alternating with ø), features (along with the suffix -ak-) suggesting substratal origin (see Robert Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2010).

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anthrax was in 1776

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Cite this Entry

“Anthrax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthrax. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

anthrax

noun
an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
: an infectious and usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a bacterium and transmissible to humans
also : a bacterium causing anthrax

Medical Definition

anthrax

noun
an·​thrax ˈan-ˌthraks How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
plural anthraces -thrə-ˌsēz How to pronounce anthrax (audio)
: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (as hair), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs
also : the bacterium causing anthrax

More from Merriam-Webster on anthrax

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