chlamydia
noun
chla·myd·ia
klə-ˈmi-dē-ə 
plural chlamydiae
klə-ˈmi-dē-ˌē
1
: any of a genus (Chlamydia, family Chlamydiaceae) of spherical gram-negative intracellular bacteria
especially
: one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and urogenital tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of urethritis
2
: a disease or infection caused by chlamydiae
Examples of chlamydia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The surge has been driven largely by the spread of chlamydia, a devastating bacterial infection.
—
Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Some of the most common STIs are HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chlamydia 
Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Some of the most common STIs are HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chlamydia
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chlamydia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Chlamydia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chlamydia. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chlamydia
noun
chla·myd·ia
klə-ˈmid-ē-ə
1
capitalized
: the type genus of the family Chlamydiaceae comprising coccoid to spherical gram-negative intracellular parasitic bacteria and including one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and genitourinary tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of nongonococcal urethritis
2
plural chlamydiae
-ē-ˌē, -ˌī
also chlamydias
also chlamydias
a
: a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia
b
: an infection or disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia
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