tetanus

noun

tet·a·nus ˈte-tə-nəs

ˈtet-nəs

: an acute infectious bacterial disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles especially of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin of a clostridium (Clostridium tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound compare lockjaw

: the bacterium that causes tetanus

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from rapidly repeated motor impulses

Examples of tetanus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Affordable immunizations for flu, HPV, pneumonia, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox/shingles), whopping cough and hepatitis will be available, the release said. —

Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2023 There lies the pristine cross-shaped marker for Abdon Garcia, a 10-year-old who died from tetanus in 1931 after stepping on nail. —

René A. Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Oct. 2022 Though many people may only associate tetanus risk with rusty nails, any type of puncture wound can lead to tetanus, an infection that causes painful muscle spasms and can be deadly, Hendrix said. —

Caroline Catherman, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Oct. 2022 Another concern relates to whether the vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines given during pregnancy — flu shots, Covid shots, and Tdap, short for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. —

Helen Branswell, STAT, 21 Aug. 2023 While at Desiree’s bedside, the documentary team recorded Kurtz emailing a woman in Phoenix who had been the subject of a local news story on her reported allergic reaction a month after tetanus and flu shots. —

Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2023 Giving in to pressure to rescind the COVID vaccine mandate could even undermine the Pentagon’s other vaccine mandates for service members, which include shots for polio, measles, hepatitis, flu and tetanus. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022 This includes routine childhood vaccinations like the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents against certain strains of the virus that can lead to cervical cancer. —

Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2022 Some people are reluctant to be vaccinated during pregnancy, and even those who agree to some vaccines may be hesitant to add another shot to a growing list of jabs — influenza, Covid, the combined tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine — that they are urged to get while pregnant. —

Helen Branswell, STAT, 17 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tetanus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek tetanos, from tetanos stretched, rigid; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of tetanus was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tetanus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetanus. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

tetanus

noun

tet·a·nus ˈtet-ə-nəs

: a dangerous infectious disease marked by contraction of the muscles especially of the jaws and caused by a poison made by a bacterium that usually enters the body through a wound compare lockjaw

: contraction of a muscle for a much longer time than normal that results from rapidly repeated motor nerve impulses

Medical Definition

tetanus

noun

tet·a·nus ˈtet-ᵊn-əs, ˈtet-nəs

: an acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles and especially of the muscles of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin produced by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound compare lockjaw

: tetanus bacillus

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from a series of motor impulses following one another too rapidly to permit intervening relaxation of the muscle